Message From the President

37 words that push for progress

Over my 32 years spent in higher education, I have placed considerable focus on 37 specific words. From my first role in higher education, through two decades at a college for women, to my role today balancing a college for women alongside a college for men – Title IX has been a constant companion. Thirty-seven words: “No person in the United States shall, on the basis of sex, be excluded from participation in, be denied the benefits of, or be subjected to discrimination under any educational program or activity receiving federal financial assistance.”

Over the past 50 years, these landmark words and the vision that allowed them to emerge have transformed the experience for millions of women and girls and, more importantly, generated the possibility for a more just society for all. The impact of Title IX has far exceeded the authors’ intent.

Too often society equates Title IX to only equality for girls and women in athletics. Title IX legislation, passed in 1972, did radically improve equality on athletic competition surfaces. Much more significantly, it opened a transformational era of equality for many and change for a wide array of important social structures. Title IX is landmark because it affords equal protection, based on sex, for the inherent right to healthy education and work. Title IX provides protections and remedies for girls, boys, women, men, parents and, more broadly, society. As long as we see evidence of an imbalanced experience or access to programs or services, we have a need for Title IX. As long as high school and college students and employees experience different treatment, discrimination or harassment, we have a need for Title IX. As long as we see measurable and unsubstantiated differentiations in pay, we have a need for Title IX. At Saint Ben’s we are given – by our mission – to the holistic development of our students. We work hard to deliver an impactful and transformational experience for our students and doing so – in the full spirit of our Benedictine tradition – is holy work. Doing so requires us to remain attuned and intentional in the provision of high-impact education. Our goal is for students to flourish. To flourish so they may go into the world as educated and purposeful citizens. How we teach and learn and how we enable students depends on our ability to create and nurture learning environments and programs that lift people up, call them to high expectations and both challenge and support them as they seek deeper knowledge and wisdom. Our hope is for each student to emerge from CSB as a member of society who understands the Common Good, who honors the dignity of people, who thinks critically and acts for peace and justice. As the inaugural joint president, I expect the same for students who graduate from Saint John’s University as well. As we strive for a more just world and pursue our educational mission, I encourage us to celebrate the 50th Anniversary of Title IX, to take stock in the progress we have made and to recommit ourselves to collaboratively and unapologetically defining the next 50 years of progress as we enable and nurture even greater human flourishing!

Our hope is for each student to emerge from CSB as a member of society who understands the Common Good, who honors the dignity of people, who thinks critically and acts for peace and justice.”

Brian J. Bruess, Ph.D.

President, College of Saint Benedict and Saint John’s University