Scores of presidents of public and private colleges across the nation have sent a letter to President-elect Donald Trump calling on him to “seek common ground, not hostility, partnership, not conflict” as he rises to the nation’s top leadership role amid a decline in civility.
The appeal comes after several weeks of widespread demonstrations protesting Trump’s election and mixed public responses to news reports of the names of some political and social figures Trump is said to be considering for keys roles in his presidential administration to begin in January 2017.
“As do you, we ‘seek common ground, not hostility, partnership, not conflict,’” said the letter to Trump from academic leaders. “In order to maintain the trust required for such productive engagement, it is essential that we immediately reaffirm the core values of our democratic nation: human decency, equal rights, freedom of expression, and freedom from discrimination,” the letter continued.
“As college and university presidents, we commit ourselves to promoting these values on our campuses and in our communities, and we stand alongside the business, nonprofit, religious, and civic leaders who are doing the same in organizations large and small,” the letter continued.
