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MCC Daily Tribune Archive

President's Wednesday Message


This is MCC’s first Civility Week, the center piece of which is a visit by P.M. Forni—cofounder of the Johns Hopkins Civility Project.  So, it seems to make sense to turn to Professor Forni’s “Choosing Civility: the 25 Rules of Considerate Conduct” for this Wednesday Message.

Many of us at MCC have read this book in preparation for his visit and this week.  What I love about it is how being civil, courteous, and considerate are linked to being human—and smart.  One of my favorite lines comes from the first chapter: “Consideration is imagination on a moral track.”  Another appears later in the book: “Nice guys don’t have to finish last.  Not if they are also smart, imaginative, dedicated, and persevering.”  The intersection between intelligence, creativity, and civility that Professor Forni captures is powerful, and it seems a great answer to the notion that courtesy and freedom of expression, that civility and intellectual discourse cannot go hand-in-hand.  This is a central tension at any great academic institution: how to grapple with significant issues, how to discuss differing ideas, how to argue key points . . . all without alienating those who need to be part of the dialog.  It says much that both “Listen” and “Assert Yourself” live together amiably among the 25 rules.

Near the end of the book, Professor Forni proposes that we move the rules into practice with a goal of helping to

--improve the lives of those disadvantaged within our society
--create community and connection
--reduce stress in our personal and work lives

These seem like fairly lofty ambitions, but as he writes, the smallest change we make each day will have the greatest result: “All we have to do is stop, think about it, and then act.”  Interjecting the thinking, the reflection, the intention is critical to achieving these goals, and to be honest, it is essential to learning—which, after all, is why we’re here.

I am delighted that Professor Forni is joining us for Civility Week and hope that our community grows even stronger from his visit.

What are your thoughts about Making Courtesy Common at MCC?  Share them on the
blog.

Anne Kress
President's Office
10/20/2010