I want to add a few questions to President Bacow's plea for civility. Why are you doing this to each other? What has led a small number of students in this community to use language and image so hurtful? Do you enjoy causing pain? Is it that you want to get others to abandon The First Amendment, to push them over the edge in order to make your point?
I am getting tired of nastiness, of the smug self-satisfaction some of you enjoy from causing others to wince. This old grandfather is offended by your bad manners to each other and to the rest of the community. Last week, during the dedication of the DiBiaggio chair, I looked at the five outstanding alumni sitting as models for the rest of you and became painfully aware of the civility that marked their lives at Tufts when contrasted to some of you today. Even when I had to walk over Vanessa Kirsch during her protests on South African divestment, she was always civil and civilized. Alan Solomont occupied a building site more than thirty years ago, and he did it with sensitivity for those who disagreed with him.. There were others, too. Dan Marcus championed ideas with a brilliance and high mindedness that gave conservative thought an inspired dignity . Brian Kelly's film reviews were the envy of the campus, the best writing of his and many subsequent generations.
Look where we have sunk. From all parts of the political spectrum comes in-your-face venom indifferent to the pain it might cause. Get a little human respect for yourselves and for each other. If you want mine, you all have to earn it.
Sol Gittleman
The writer is the provost of Tufts University
