Message from Dr. Belinda Miles: Honoring Our Founding Principles
Colleagues,
This week we celebrated the adoption of the Declaration of Independence, which established the foundation for our democratic system. While the precept that “All men are created equal” was not reflective of the women and African Americans who were excluded, it did set us on a course that hopefully continues to exemplify Dr. Martin Luther King Jr’s observation that “the arc of the moral universe is long but bends toward justice.”
This week also provided us with an opportunity to reflect on the recent decisions handed down by the US Supreme Court, including those striking down affirmative action initiatives in college admissions, disallowing President Biden’s student loan forgiveness program, and nullifying the Colorado law that prevented businesses from refusing to serve customers whose sexual orientation ran counter to the business owner’s religious beliefs.
The juxtaposition of these events and celebrations provides us with a strong reminder of the importance of civic engagement, especially at the ballot box. For anyone who disagrees with actions taken by elected officials or the judges and justices they appoint, a clear course of action exists. We are fortunate in this country that anyone who is eligible to vote may exercise their constitutional right to vote. This is a duty we all share, regardless of political belief or party affiliation.
SUNY WCC has once again been designated a “Voter Friendly Campus” through an initiative led by national nonpartisan organizations Fair Elections Center’s Campus Vote Project and NASPA – Student Affairs Administration in Higher Education. This designation, and our continuing effort to engage and enlighten our students through a variety of perspectives, issues, and disciplines, reflects our focus on providing a strong broad-based education. SUNY WCC students are prepared academically and professionally and also to understand the roles they will play in advancing our society and local communities while simultaneously honoring our founding principles.
Dr. Belinda S. Miles
President