President’s Weekly Messages to Students

What divides us

Wednesday, October 20, 2021

"What divides us pales in comparison to what unites us". - Edward Kennedy

Dear KCC Students,

R.E.S.P.E.C.T.  Both Aretha Franklin and The Lox sang about it and at Kingsborough, RESPECT is one of our 6 college values.  For us, respect means being civil to each other and accepting, appreciating and supporting our individual differences.

Each of us came to Kingsborough with backgrounds, experiences, identities, cultural, religious and political beliefs, family dynamics, and a range of other characteristics that make us who we are.  As in any community, you will find people with whom you have many things in common and you will also encounter many others with whom you share no commonalities.  Congratulations! You are in the right place.  College is the place where you not only learn information in your major areas of study, but you get to learn about and get to know people who are different from you.  Think about it, how boring would it be if we were all the same?   

In this month that we celebrate LGBTQ History, I can’t help but to think about what Audre Lorde, an American writer, who described herself as a "black, lesbian, mother, warrior, poet," and dedicated her life to speaking out about racism, sexism, and homophobia once said: It is not our differences that divide us. It is our inability to recognize, accept, and celebrate (and I will add here respect )those differences. We would want someone to respect who we are, so it should stand to reason that we respect others for who they are as well.

I want you to know that today and every day I respect and celebrate what makes each of you different and what makes you the same;  especially the strength, resiliency, courage, and the determination fulfill your academic goals that you all have common.   You are all on this journey together and I can’t wait to celebrate you when you get to your destination: Graduation!

As always, if you have any concerns, questions, observations or feedback about your experiences; or if you want to let me know about and office or someone at KCC who has been very helpful to you, just respond to this email.

Stay safe and continue to do your best.

-President Schrader