Leadership Starts Here

At San Diego State, Leadership Starts Here is a bold statement of the university’s ethos. It is a promise fulfilled by the many contributions of our alumni, faculty, staff, community partners and students.

This past Saturday, I attended our Student Affairs conference on leadership and  I want to comment briefly on the leadership our students are demonstrating. Every day, I see evidence of SDSU students taking leadership roles on campus and in the community. They face challenges. They raise questions and issues. They overcome adversity. They envision and embrace a brighter future

Think about what our young people have seen in their short lives—an attack on their country on Sept. 11, 2001; two wars; environmental threats to the earth they will inherit; and the most significant and prolonged economic challenges in almost a century.

Our students could have become discouraged or fearful in the face of these events. Instead, they have become leaders. They have served our nation, launched environmental initiatives, raised fundamental questions about our societal practices and values, supported our community and demonstrated the entrepreneurial energy that is the key to rebuilding our economy.

Leadership Starts Here!

Remembering the Past: The CSU Nisei Diploma Project

In 1942, Executive Order 9066 authorized the internment of more than 120,000 Japanese Americans. Families lost their homes and professional lives. More than 250 students in the California State University system – many at San Diego State University – lost their educational opportunity to earn a college degree.

We cannot, as a country, ever fully right these wrongs, but we can recognize the wrongs that were committed. One way we do this is by honoring those who were wronged. In 2010, SDSU presented approximately 45 of our former interned students (or their descendants) honorary degrees. While these degrees do not replace the lost years, they do signify our communal responsibility for Executive Order 9066.

Since 2010, the CSU has been collecting video stories of the honorees. This week, we honored those who were interned by listening to their personal stories. In doing so, we attempt to move forward as one community, united by our common humanity.

Read more about the event and watch the CSU Nisei Diploma Project: San Diego State University documentary on the SDSU website.

Remembering Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.

During the past week, we honored the life and legacy of Dr. Martin Luther King. At the Educator’s Breakfast, our 32^nd annual parade, the All-People’s breakfast and San Diego State’s annual tribute to Dr. King, we remembered how Dr. King changed our country and our lives. We considered the role that his philosophy of non-violence played, and continues to play, in creating social change.  We reflected on his practice of community organizing and its continuing influence on our democratic process. Most of all, we recognized that while we have made substantial progress, we have much work  to do and that, above all else, this must be the year in which we act to realize Dr. King’s ideals.

Read more about the campus Martin Luther King, Jr. tribute here.

Super Sundays

I recently had the pleasure of participating in my first Super Sunday events at Bayview Baptist Church and St. Stephens Church of God in Christ. For those of you unfamiliar with Super Sunday, it is a  University-wide recruitment event that aims to enroll more African-American students. My experience was exhilarating.

Both congregations are extraordinary, filled with love, faith and pride.  Further, each has a deep connection to San Diego State University with many church members who are SDSU alumni and many more who have connections to the university through friends and family.

The members of  Bayview Baptist and St. Stephens and their esteemed leaders, Pastor Winters and Bishop McKinney, respectively, recognize the fundamental value of education and they are committed to a partnership in which we affirm the values of excellence and access for local area students.

I left each church excited about our prospects to enroll, retain and graduate more African-American students from our local community. I know that, working in partnership, we will support and advance our students, our community and our society.

On the Road with Aztec Football

I just returned from two days in Ann Arbor, Michigan with our football team.  While there are significant issues and challenges with college football, our time in Michigan illustrates just how much is right with college football today.

While much of the pre-game media attention was focused on whether or not we could beat a “big time” program, I saw a very different perspective in Ann Arbor. Our hosts were gracious and welcoming. They even played our fight song – a tradition we should adopt for visiting teams.  I met alumni who had traveled from all over the country to support our football team and have a deep appreciation for the education they received at San Diego State. I spoke with parents of our players who, rather than emphasizing a future in the NFL, are focused on their children’s academic and professional development.  I heard former NFL player and Aztec alumnus Kyle Turley play a pretty mean guitar at our pre-game event.

Most importantly, I saw a game in which, despite extraordinary adversity, our players fought on every play and comported themselves with sportsmanship and dignity. Likewise our 1,000 fans cheered relentlessly in a stadium filled with 109,000 Michigan fans. (I can’t say I would mind if I never heard their fight song, “The Victors” again.)

Afterwards, behind the stadium and away from the cheers of the crowd, a ritual occurred that takes place at countless stadiums across the country every Saturday. Families waited for their sons to exit the locker room and board the team bus.  In that brief space and time, hugs were exchanged, consolation was given and effort was recognized – a moment of comfort on a very challenging day.

Some days it is not your day and, for a host of reasons, Saturday was not our team’s day. Nonetheless, a full and complete effort was given by all of our players, coaches and staff and that, to me, is big-time college football.