麻豆传媒 President Todd Diacon encouraged the campus community to lean on the university's core values during times of stress and pressure, as many are feeling now with the ongoing unrest in Israel and Gaza.
During his most recent Talking With Todd segment in which he speaks live from the President's Office and takes questions, Diacon encouraged kindness and respect at the personal level. In addition, Diacon emphasized that the university's tragic history with the events of May 4, 1970, provides lessons that can guide the university community through the divisiveness of world events and the mounting discord of future events, including the 2024 elections.
Diacon shared that his focus will remain on what he鈥檚 for, rather than what he鈥檚 against as a leader.
鈥淚 am for the right to say what one thinks, with the goal of doing so in a manner that鈥檚 kind and respectful of those who are going to think quite differently than you do,鈥 Diacon said.
The president suggested that the May 4, 1970, legacy reminds us of the potential extreme consequences of division and the price of free expression.
鈥淜indness and respect on the one hand, freedom of expression on the other,鈥 he said.
Talking the values talk is one thing, but walking the walk can be difficult. Diacon cited three challenging factors he categorized as 鈥渓ocalization.鈥
- The misperception that events elsewhere in the U.S. and the world, particularly on university campuses, must also be happening at Kent State.
- Pressure from regional and national organizations applied to Kent State students, leading them to represent positions that aren鈥檛 necessarily their own.
- The intense stress created by a 24-7 news coverage and ever-present social media.
Watch the full Talking With Todd session:
Diacon referenced his August address to first-year students where he emphasized free speech and ways to disagree while still being respectful and kind to one another.