Hamline University has vowed to stand its continuous identity with the core values of its founders, the early Methodist of Minnesota, following mess involving former gubernatorial candidate Tom Emmer.
Hamline is envisioned as a place to educate citizens for lives of civic responsibility and service in an environment of open inquiry, critical thinking, civil discourse and high ethical standards, said the university president, Linda Hanson.
“Those remain our core values, lived out every day in our classrooms, on our campus, and in the business and civic community,” Hanson said.
Hanson said the university acknowledges that its process of dealings with Emmer did not rise to the standards that Hamline University upholds as an institution.
“We take responsibility for that and do not take our shortcoming lightly,” she said.
Hanson said that Hamline works arduously to create an environment that will enable students to deal with the complexity, diversity and change that define the world we live in and to lead successful lives of leadership, scholarship and service.
“That means we cultivate diversity at every level, including diversity of thought and opinion,” Hanson said.
The Hamline University community includes members of every political party and viewpoint among the faculty, the administration and the students.
Faculty members serve as advisors to student organizations such as College Democrats, College Republicans, and Hamline’s chapter of the Minnesota Public Interest Research Group.
Hanson said that diversity of viewpoints in the classroom is expected and Hamline faculty members align course materials with current opportunities in the public arena and utilize materials that present a diversity of views.
“Diversity of opinion within our faculty is real and verifiable,” Hanson said.
She cited an instance when a member of their law school faculty researched and drafted the conceal-and-carry legislation that eventually became Minnesota law, an issue that has passionate supporters and opponents on campus, in the community at large and throughout Minnesota.
“On nearly every issue one can think of, we have an abundance of viewpoints,” Hanson said as she invites those who press the point that colleges and universities are exclusively liberal to spend time at Hamline University, and witness for themselves how this institution is representative of the society and intentionally is a place where ideas can be discussed in a safe and open environment.
“As president, I am confident we will continue our respected tradition of preparing students to be independent thinkers, prepared to make a contribution to their communities as engaged citizens and leaders,” Hanson added.