“In the middle of difficulty lies opportunity,” Albert Einstein once said. And opportunity is exactly what Donna Gross, dean of students, and Diane Jefferson, director of Multicultural Student Affairs, saw as co-chairs of Shippensburg University’s Civility Committee. In a country marred by political discord, civility—that polite and humane way of treating and accepting others—often gets lost in our daily interactions. Article after article bemoan the death of civility and respect, particularly in the Digital Age, when it’s easier than ever to judge someone from behind a screen. Those online
interactions can then resurface in person, turning into arguments and fights. Gen Z has grown up with their phones in hand, and knows this situation all too well. In working with students at Shippensburg, Gross and Jefferson recognized similar interactions happening on and around campus. “The Civility
Committee was developed to examine what was occurring and respond to it,” Gross said. The committee of students, faculty, and staff began meeting last fall and developed several ideas. “There were lots of different perspectives, especially student perspectives, which were very valuable,” Jefferson said (above). “Students, in general, wanted to know more about each other and share their experiences.” The committee discussed what it means to be a Raider and how civility is lived out at Ship. Members defined six values—respect, community, leadership, kindness, responsibility, and friendship— that shaped activities for Civility Day held during Fall Welcome Week. In addition to service projects, outdoor initiatives, and discussions, incoming students participated in Dear World, an interactive experience
Students and Staff Share Their Visual Stories Civility Day, held during Fall Welcome Week, gave first-year students a chance to learn about each other during the Dear World project.
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