Dear Fellow Students,

I want to start by saying that it makes me endlessly happy to see NU students’ excitement about the national presidential elections. We are discussing, debating, participating, and mobilizing in a way that has been uncharacteristic of the youth generation since the 1960s. We are actively contradicting all of those who characterize our generation as disengaged and apathetic. As we recognize the momentous and historic nature of this election, I encourage everyone to vote and to find those alternative avenues through with you can continue to facilitate and support the democratic process.

At the same time, I want to call attention to a leadership transition that is happening a bit closer to home: the selection of the new president of Northwestern University. The presidential selection committee is currently vetting candidates, and will soon select a leader that will set the priorities for Northwestern in the next chapter of its history. Since our university president will play a central role in shaping the policies, values, and culture of the institution, it is a decision that effects each of us.

At this moment in the history of NU, we as students have an opportunity to make our demands heard and inspire changes in the highest levels of the administration. I have had the privilege to work with a group of students passionate about building a “culture of engagement” at Northwestern, calling for increased support of civic and global engagement opportunities.

This group of students, which has formalized into a student initiative known as the Northwestern Engagement Coalition, has written a letter to articulate to the presidential search committee and other administrators the key gaps that currently exist at the university for students interested in civic and global engagement and our goals for the future. This letter seeks to call to attention three of our main concerns:

• Underdeveloped curriculum dealing with interdisciplinary engagement issues including global service, global heath, philanthropy, community and international development, etc.
• Limited knowledge sharing and collaboration amongst students, professors, and community partners working to address global social issues
• Insufficient institutional, financial, and conceptual support of student-driven engagement initiatives

We have already collected more than 400 signatures of support for this letter, and will be sending it to the presidential search committee this week. If you feel that these engagement issues are important to your Northwestern experience, and you are interested in learning more or lending your support to this initiative, please go to here and sign the letter by MIDNIGHT TODAY (Monday, October 20th)

Let’s make Northwestern not only one of the best schools in the world, but also one of the best schools for the world. Will you join us?

Kelly Kirkpatrick
SESP ‘09

Letters to North by Northwestern may be edited for clarity. If you’d like to submit a letter, e-mail it to us.