Statements and Letters

AAC&U Applauds Historic Election and Milestone for Our Democracy

November 5, 2008

When AAC&U launched its initiative, American Commitments: Diversity, Democracy, and Liberal Learning in 1993, we engaged the higher education community in a far-reaching effort to address two fundamental realities of our country and our campuses—our ever-increasing diversity and the work yet to be done to fulfill the promise of democracy for all Americans.   Diversity, the American Commitments initiative affirmed, needs to be guided by democratic values and aspirations; one important test of those values is how fully our society succeeds in giving voice, opportunity, and hope to everyone. 

Yesterday, Americans took an unprecedented and remarkable step toward this goal in electing Barack Obama our next president.

This historic moment was made possible by many years of struggle—across all parts of U.S. society—for the expansion of equality, justice, opportunity, and inclusion.  The nation’s colleges and universities have played a significant role in this long-term effort.  Colleges and universities of all sorts have made civic, diversity and democratic learning a central commitment.  They have engaged their students and their communities with the challenges and responsibilities we face as a diverse democracy.  And young people all across the country—including hundreds of thousands of today’s college students who played such an active role in this election—helped bring about this historic day.

Senator John McCain, in his concession speech last night, urged all Americans to “offer our next president our goodwill and earnest effort to find ways to come together to find the necessary compromises to bridge our differences and help restore our prosperity, defend our security in a dangerous world, and leave our children and grandchildren a stronger, better country than we inherited.”

President-elect Obama also looked to our children’s future and pondered the world they will inherit.  He noted “the enormity of the task that lies ahead,” and reminded us that “the road ahead will be long. Our climb will be steep.  We may not get there in one year, or even one term, but…we as a people will get there.” 

He urged us all to “summon a new spirit of patriotism; of service and responsibility where each of us resolves to pitch in and work harder and look after not only ourselves, but each other….In this country, we rise or fall as one nation—as one people.”    We know that the higher education community will respond in full measure to this call.

Acknowledging the hard work ahead, AAC&U is proud today to have played a small role in our nation’s ongoing efforts to forge “a more perfect union.”  As an association, we remain committed to graduating students who leave college both prepared and inspired to take on with vigor the responsibility of forging that union—a union that is at once diverse, democratic, and strong.

This election is not the end of this long-term commitment.  Rather, it is a moment for recommitment to the full promise of American democracy.  The signature report (pdf) from AAC&U’s LEAP initiative (Liberal Education and America’s Promise) opened with the words of W.E.B DuBois:  “Of all the civil rights for which the world has struggled and fought for 5,000 years, the right to learn is undoubtedly the most fundamental.”  Those words remain true and ring clear today.  Educators will surely continue to play a crucial role in expanding opportunity for those who are still struggling for full inclusion in our society, strengthening democratic commitments, debating our nation’s future direction, and providing insight and wisdom on the issues of the day.

As an association of educators, we stand ready to continue this journey and work to fulfill America’s promise for all its peoples.

AAC&U President Carol Geary Schneider
AAC&U Board of Directors
(November 5, 2008)