September 11 and the Demons of Violence
September 11, 2025
24 years later, the images still haunt us: twin towers exploding, belching huge clouds of smoke and ash, collapsing onto a city forever changed by the sickness and sorrow of that day. I’m not using any images of the towers on fire, they are too painful and irreverent in light of the thousands of lives that were consumed in the inferno. We remember them — those who died in New York and at the Pentagon and in a field in Shanksville, PA — and all those who lived with the aftermath of that terrible day of violence and terror. The families and co-workers, yes — but all of us absorbed elements of the bitter, corrosive aftermath of September 11, 2001.
The demons of violence unleashed that day burrowed their ways into so many parts of American life, revealing us as a fearful, vengeful, more violent nation than we thought we were on September 10. We went to war against those we thought were responsible, in Iraq and Afghanistan, sacrificing thousands of lives in pursuit of the shadowy enemy. We finally killed Osama bin Laden, the mastermind of our misery, but the terror continued since violence is not really about one person but a cultural heritage that passes among people across generations.
In our anger and thirst for revenge, America became a more divided and violent place in the decades after September 11. The politics of suspicion and division, anger and retribution widened the ideological and cultural gaps among us. A large swatch of the American population chose to build armories against impending doom — Americans own more guns per capita than we have people in this country. Gun violence is commonplace and efforts to limit guns fail repeatedly.
Rising violence has infected American politics with hateful rhetoric and appalling images filling social media and dark minds with guns and desire for bloodshed. Someone shoots through the stained glass windows of a church in Minnesota, killing two children and injuring many more, and we learn afterward that he actually expressed a desire to kill kids. School shootings have become so frequent that they no longer capture headlines. Large gatherings for games or concerts or political rallies have become dangerous venues with constant reminders — prohibitions on bags, metal detectors, swarms of police — of the dark forces that lurk on the fringes.
Political violence is rising in this polarized nation, and the murder yesterday of conservative activist Charlie Kirk at a rally on the campus of Utah Valley University is the latest flashpoint. No one knows the motivation of his killer but social media is full of accusations against various political parties. Kirk’s death is a tragedy, as were the murders of Democratic politicians earlier this year in Minnesota, and many other murders or attempted assassinations against officials of all parties. Violence respects no party or ideology; violence is its own belief system.
When will the violence end? Is there any solution to America’s crisis of anger, revenge, polarization and homicidal desires? We must find a solution, and soon. I heard a commentator on the radio this morning musing about the possibility of a new civil war in this nation, and that is not a far-fetched worry. Either we learn how to make peace among ourselves, or we will see increasingly violent actions resulting in further social and political divisions.
The first step is for all of the people who believe in peace and non-violence to be more affirming of those choices. We need leaders to step up who are not afraid to counter the violent rhetoric of other leaders. We need our churches and religious leaders to step up their engagement with communities and congregations that need to lay down their arms. We need educational leaders to take on the hard work of teaching about the sources of violence and elements of peacebuilding, and to create schools and colleges that demonstrate the best of peaceful commitments for all.
We also need to demand that our political leaders set aside the violence of their rhetoric that inspires rogue individuals to commit horrific acts of violence. Yesterday, President Trump rightfully condemned the murder of Charlie Kirk, but he used language and accusations that will only inflame his followers against others. And this is a president that, only last week, had a meme on his social media website of Chicago in flames with a threatening message that, “Chicago is about to find out why it’s called the department of WAR.” Threatening an American city with violence by its own government is not a pathway to peace. And renaming the “Department of Defense” as the “Department of War” illustrates clear disregard for any hope of peacebuilding leadership in the world.
We need to purge the demons of violence and hatred that were spawned on September 11. Let’s start by agreeing to commit at least one act of peace each day.
Continue reading →Read comments (0) Add CommentThe New Pioneer Women of Trinity
August 22, 2025
(Top: Trinity’s Pioneer Women Class of 1904 – Bottom: New Pioneers Class of 2029)
The New Pioneer Women of Trinity
Remarks to New Students in the College of Arts and Sciences
August 22, 2025
President Patricia McGuire
125 years ago this year, on a cold, rainy November morning, in the Year 1900, 4 intrepid young women first set foot on Trinity’s campus in what was then considered the “countryside” of the nation’s capital. Michigan Avenue was a dirt road, and the college they came to inhabit had one building — or, should I say, a single wing of one building (the south wing of Main Hall) under construction. Their class scribe told the story of their first encounter with Trinity: “And this is how Trinity first opened its doors to its students. It was Saturday noon, November 3, 1900, when amidst a depressing downpour of rain four students and one sister wended heir muddy way from the car track to the front door….” But they could not find the front door because that south wing of Main Hall was still being constructed. Eventually they found their way inside, and soon, other young women and sisters joined them and classes began on November 8, 1900 with 19 students.
(Above left: Main Hall was just the south wing in 1900 when the first students arrived; Above, right: four years later in 1904 Michigan Avenue was still a dirt road and Main was still six years away from completion)
A century and a quarter later, we may look back at the quaint tale of those women, the first Class of 1904 — a Red Class – and marvel at their fortitude and determination to make a go of it in a place that must have seemed very strange and foreboding to them. Like many of you, most if not all of them were the first in their families to go to college — because women, for the most part, were not allowed to go to college in the 19th Century. Trinity was founded because Catholic women who applied to the then-new Catholic University were barred from admission.
Not everyone was happy about the idea of women going to college back then. Some conservative priests at Catholic University wrote to the Pope complaining that the Sisters of Notre Dame who were trying to start Trinity were engaging in heresy — a heresy called “Americanism” because the idea of women’s education was considered very liberal, which is how Europe used to view America (alas, no longer).
The sisters persisted, the Pope (Leo XIII) said ok, the women came, and history began to roll forward.
Today, you are the women of destiny, you are the new generation of pioneer women poised to make history yet again.
Who are you? We know some things about you from your class data profile:
40% aspire to be nurses; others plan to study Business, Criminal Justice, Biology, Psychology, Early Childhood Education and other subjects;
82% are first time in college
15% transferred from another college
74% were born in the United States
26% were born in 28 other countries, with El Salvador, Honduras and Mexico topping that list
84% identify as American citizens
66% are D.C. residents with another 23% from Maryland
44% identify as Black or African American while 42% identify as Hispanic
You are Baptist and Muslim, Buddhist and Catholic, Hindu and Methodist and many other faiths
You are coming to Trinity because you have big dream for yourselves and your families — you know that a great education will make all the difference in helping you to realize your full potential throughout your lives.
Today we welcome you into this grand community and tradition of women scholars arrayed in a long line back to those first 19 students in 1900. They started traditions that continue to this day — traditions like the class colors (The Class of 2029 is a Blue Class) and, most important, the Honor System This morning you will take the Honor Pledge and sign the Honor Roll, and then you will receive your Trinity medals.
The Honor Agreement and Medal Ceremony
The Honor Agreement has been our tradition since the founding of Trinity. We expect you to live lives of honor and integrity, and to help each other to do so. This sets Trinity apart from many other schools and many places of business today.
The mission and values of Trinity, as embodied in our Honor System, reject any and all acts and words of hatred against other individuals; we welcome, honor and respect everyone here at Trinity and we expect you to treat every other person you encounter here with the respect and dignity they deserve.
This is the essence of the Honor Code, along with, of course, a deep commitment to being truthful in everything.
As part of this ceremony you will also receive the Trinity Medal, a symbol of your entrance into the Trinity community and commitment to the values of the Honor System.
The Trinity Medal has, on its front, the image of Our Lady – Notre Dame – the patron of the Sisters of Notre Dame who founded Trinity in 1897. On the back is the Celtic triangle symbolizing the Trinity. Your Trinity Medals are symbols — symbols of the power of women to change the world. Wear them well, wear them with pride, never do anything to disgrace them!
Challenges and Expectations for Trinity’s New Pioneers
You are starting your Trinity journeys at a time of considerable challenge and even peril for our Democracy in America and for freedom and justice throughout the world. Even as I speak, military personnel who have no lawful basis for patrolling our city streets are doing just that at the behest of a political leader who has shattered conventional notions of how a president of the United States should govern. We hear talk of fascism, authoritarianism, tyranny in tones that are not joking. We see delivery drivers snatched from their mopeds by masked men allegedly doing the government’s business. People are stopped and asked for their “papers” at train stations as if this were a movie from prewar Germany. The fragile pact called Home Rule for the District of Columbia is in tatters as our mayor and councilmembers do their best to keep knitting the pieces back together again while trying to find a pathway to peace with the federal administration.
Some of you have shared your anxieties and fears with us, going so far as to say you are worried about leaving your homes to come to college. You may have very good reasons for feeling this way, but here is now what I must say to you as your new teacher and leader of your college:
- You must not let the forces that seek to diminish your horizons do so.
- You must not concede a single step to the bullies who want you to be afraid, who want you to stay home, who hope that you will abandon your dreams of high achievement and powerful women’s leadership for the future.
- Do not ever let anyone tell you that you should accept less — less than what you deserve, less than what is your right — as the price of safety and security.
- Do not become a hostage to an agenda that deliberately and with malice seeks to repress and defeat your potential because you are female, because you are Black or Brown, or speak with an accent, or don’t have certain documents, or are too familiar with poverty,or are different in ways that diverge from what those in power say you should be to merit the benefits of this society.
Here’s why you are at Trinity: For 125 years, from the day those first brave students slogged through the mud to find our front door, Trinity Women have learned how to overcome obstacles, figure out solutions, speak truth to power, move ahead with change and triumph over adversity.
You are safe here at Trinity, but our real job is not to shelter you but, rather, to prepare you for active engagement with a challenging and often dangerous world.
Students before you triumphed through world wars, depressions, terrorist acts and global pandemics. They did this through the power of higher learning, acquiring the knowledge and skills that you will gather as you study human behaviors in psychology and sociology, the construction of political societies and the corruption of power, the philosophies of both oppression and revolution.
You will examine the molecules of life through microscopes and feel blood coursing through veins as you learn to be nurses and healthcare practitioners. You will study the root causes of racial and ethnic hatreds both here in the U.S. and around the world, the cruel intents of those who perpetrate horrific wars in places like Gaza and Ukraine; your study and research will lead you to conceptualize solutions for building new communities where diverse people can thrive together in peace.
You will learn why it is necessary for universities, libraries and museums to proclaim the truths that so many find uncomfortable about our history and our society; that slavery was an abomination not a mere distraction; that racism is truly America’s Original Sin; that hatred of persons who are “other” by race or nationality or gender or sexual orientation or belief or immigration status is an offense against faith teachings on human life and human dignity which are the bedrock teaching of the Catholic faith in social justice that animates Trinity and many other faith traditions.
As you learn all of this, you will become powerful advocates for yourselves and your communities, you will become trusted, valued leaders for the future, you will become fearless warriors for justice and peace.
And you might be saying to yourselves right now: who is she kidding?
Maybe you are a young Black woman who has suffered too much racism and marginalization as you have tried to move ahead with your dreams. Maybe you are an undocumented student who is holding that knowledge to yourself, afraid to let anyone know, and the repression of that truth is too much to bear. Maybe you are not afraid, feel just fine with things the way they are, don’t understand what the fuss is all about.
You will learn here how to respect and listen to all points of view, to let each person be herself whether you agree or disagree with opinions. But you will also learn that there cannot be bystanders when the times call for action. Whatever positions you espouse, at Trinity you will learn how to stand up, speak out, and most importantly, contribute to building a healthy community that serves the common good. You see our purpose stated on our banners along Michigan Avenue, and on our logo everywhere: Education for Justice. You will work for justice each day so that our communities can find the peace we must have to thrive.
Through all of that learning and growth, you will be sustained by the knowledge that you are part of that long line of activists and women leaders who have proudly carried the mission and values of Trinity into this world. For 125 years, Trinity has educated the next generations of citizen leaders, teachers, corporate entrepreneurs and nonprofit innovators, nurses and doctors and practitioners of the healing arts, women determined to make this world a happier, healthier, more just and free place. Their presence, their hard work, their strong voices and clear influence have, indeed, changed our world.
The first women who did that here were the Founders of Trinity, the Sisters of Notre Dame de Namur. 125 years ago, a small group of very courageous women started their own revolution for justice. These religious sisters certainly did not think of themselves as radicals, and yet look at this room today, a room they could not have imagined in the segregated world of 1897 —but they would be so proud of you today!
As you leave this Chapel today, wearing your Trinity medals proudly, go with the blessings of the Trinity. May you find the strength, the wisdom and the love of the Trinity as inspiration, support and a call to action each day. Congratulations!
And so many thanks to our student leaders and peer advisors who are leading the way for our new students!
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Standing Strong for Home Rule
August 13, 2025
(A beautiful city as far as the eye can see… a view of D.C. from Trinity in Northeast to the Washington highlands in Southeast)
The District of Columbia is one of the world’s great cities, an awesome learning laboratory, a beautiful place for work and play alike. For 55 years, through good times and bad, I have sometimes lived in, consistently worked in, occasionally volunteered for, often played in and always enjoyed this tremendous city.
Today, I am dismayed and angry by the outrageous disrespect and outright slander that the president of the United States has directed toward D.C., its leaders and its residents. No one here deserves his shameful contempt, his tyrannical tactics, his utter abuse of democracy and self-determination. His words about crime in the city are belied by the actual facts; but even worse, his “fix” for crime is actually a deliberate act to undo Home Rule and undermine the right of the citizens of D.C. to determine their own affairs. His rhetoric about “squalor” and “bedlam” is offensive hyperbole not supported by reality.
I have devoted most of my professional life to helping D.C. and its residents have educational, economic, social and political opportunities too long denied to too many of them; now I see those opportunities diminishing rapidly in the rising cadence of militaristic boots stomping down our ceremonial boulevards while tanks roll along as if to remind our local citizens who really controls their fate. Home rule is crushed under the treads of heavy military equipment in a performative display of a tyrant’s power dream.
I was in my second year of law school at Georgetown when Home Rule became a reality for D.C., and I had the opportunity for an internship with the legendary civil rights icon Julius Hobson, one of the original members of the newly elected D.C. Council. The vision and energy of that group in those days was astonishing — great local leaders like David Clarke, John Wilson, Polly Shackleton, Arrington Dixon, Marion Barry and others, all working together — and at times clashing — over how to stand up true self-governance for D.C. Watching them build a democracy in action was thrilling, and a great learning experience that confirmed my devotion to our city.
Half a century later, the promise of Home Rule from those heady days seems naïve, a dream gone dark in the political headwinds of a federal administration that embraces authoritarian tactics to exercise and sustain its power. Sure, D.C. has its problems with crime — name one city or town in this country that is crime free. On the same day that President Trump was lambasting D.C. in shamefully false terms, someone shot and killed three people at a Target in Austin, Texas — but we didn’t see the president sending the National Guard to Austin. His tyrannical tactics are highly selective, and quite often, seem to be vindictive actions against Black leaders, particularly Black women (Muriel Bowser in D.C., Karen Bass in Los Angeles, e.g.)
The existence of crime, like the reality of sin, is part of the human condition; it will not go away through pledges to do better or hobnail boot tactics to oppress everyone to catch the few bad guys. Crime certainly will not go away as a result of threats and abuse of homeless persons who need help, not scorn. The Trumpian rhetoric about crime in D.C. is not only not supported by the facts, it’s also not supported by the experience and practice of good and effective crime control and delinquency prevention. Over time, the aggressive use of military personnel and threats against the local population will not reduce crime, but will only taunt and encourage more unrest and flaunting of social rules — even as the president, himself, carelessly flaunts the rules about how to govern in a democracy.
Mayor Muriel Bowser has wisely chosen a temperate response to the intemperate actions of the federal administration. She has shown steady and firm leadership in this moment. But those of us who are stewards of the great institutions of our city need to show our support for her and for D.C. by speaking out on behalf of our neighbors and the citizens of the place sometimes called “the capital of the free world.” We can hardly proclaim that title if D.C., itself, remains “the last colony” under authoritarian rule.
How should we institutional leaders respond?
First and foremost, by proclaiming and demonstrating the reasons why we and our institutions are here — because D.C. is a fabulous city for our work and our constituents. For higher education, there is no better place in this country, maybe even in the world, to have our students learn through engaging with so many different resources — government, laboratories, museums and libraries, places of arts and culture, opportunities to explore urban issues and environmental concerns. All here in D.C.!
Related, we need to speak up and speak out about how many people we serve and how well we do — our productivity is part of the assets of D.C. which are completely ignored when the current administration speaks of our city. Higher education, itself, engages tens of thousands of students and alumni, contributes billions of dollars in economic value, and supports all of the local industries through the talent of our graduates. D.C. is rightfully proud to be one of the best “college towns” in America.
Finally, we must stand up and raise our voices loudly and proudly for the values of democracy and freedom. The assault on D.C. Home Rule is, ultimately, not about D.C. but about America. The experiment in supplanting Home Rule with tyranny here is likely to spread if We, the People allow it to do so. Whatever our party or political affiliation, we must be ready and willing to proclaim our shared values as Americans. Protecting the right of all citizens to self-governance is the bedrock of our nation, and must be central to restoring true “law and order” in the nation’s capital.
Honoring Colleagues As they Retire
August 7, 2025
This week we enjoyed a festive luncheon to honor seven colleagues who are retiring this year. In the photo above, they include Mr. Andres Marin (Facilities), Dr. Gladys Williams (Educational Administration), Sr. Ann Howard (Campus Ministry), Sr. Camilla Burns (Religious Studies), Sr. Mary Hayes (History and Archives), Dr. Dennis Farley (Economics) and Dr. Lynda Jackson (Business Administration). See all of the slides with their photos here: Retirement Slideshow
We deeply appreciate the many years of service of our colleagues, and we miss them already! Below are the citations for each:
Sr. Mary Hayes, SNDdeN, Professor of History and Trinity Archivist
A young woman from Montclair, New Jersey, arrived on Trinity’s campus in Fall 1953 to begin her Trinity career with the Class of 1957. Little did she or Trinity realize then that her career would span the next 72 years as a student, a Sister of Notre Dame, a member of the History Faculty, and as Trinity’s Archivist. So much can be said about Sr. Mary Hayes that we have had a real challenge editing this citation to be sure we can finish before sunset! But we will tell our Mary Hayes’ stories over and over again, with few repetitions and all shaping our collective portrait of this marvelous teacher, colleague, SND and friend.
After her graduation in 1957, Mary chose to join the SNDs and she spent her early years in religious formation. She returned to Trinity in 1967 as the youngest member of the History faculty, joining a formidable group of scholars that included the legendary Sr. Mary Lawlor, Dr. Jean Willke and Dr. Joan Kinnaird. Generations of Trinity alumnae recall with fondness – and some occasional trepidation — the powerful influence of these women.
Over the years, Mary was also a wonderful colleague for all faculty, serving on numerous committees, always attentive to governance and the integrity of the liberal arts tradition at Trinity. She was also deeply engaged with the affairs of the Sisters of Notre Dame and especially the Base Communities.
Always deeply devoted to Trinity’s history and traditions, Sr. Mary began to take on responsibilities for Trinity’s archives as the great Sr. Columba Mullaly (Class of 1925) moved into retirement. After retiring from teaching in 2015, Sr. Mary continued as our full-time archivist, a large responsibility that has included working with numerous scholars outside of Trinity working on research into Catholic colleges, women’s colleges, religious orders and related topics. Mary’s own writing includes significant contributions to the scholarship about Trinity’s founding and history as well as SNDs and religious life.
We all owe Mary a huge debt of gratitude for her seven decades of devotion to Trinity. As she moves into her next life stage, she goes with our fondest wishes for continuing good health, much grace, and the opportunity to enjoy some rest and peace.
Sr. Camilla Burns, SNDdeN, Distinguished Professor of Religious Studies
While unable to join us for the luncheon, we are so happy to salute Sr. Camilla Burns for her many years of service to Trinity in Religious Studies, and even before that, as a member of our Board of Trustees and a graduate of Trinity’s Class of 1960 with a Physics major. Before coming to Trinity Sr. Camilla served two terms as General Moderator of the Congregation of the Sisters of Notre Dame worldwide, a huge leadership position that also had significant meaning for Trinity. Whatever her role and schedule, Sr. Camilla always took the time to find out what was going on at Trinity and how she could help. A renowned theologian and specialist in pastoral ministry, Sr. Camilla traveled extensively to give talks and share her scholarship. Immediately before joining Trinity’s faculty in 2012, Sr. Camilla was on the faculty at Liverpool Hope University in England. At Trinity, among many accomplishments, she founded and organized programming for the Billiart Center for Social Justice, and across the years many students and faculty enjoyed her talks during “Soup with the Sisters,” an occasional event designed to share the mission and charism of the SNDs with today’s Trinity community.
Sr. Ann Howard, SNDdeN, Campus Minister
In the too-often frenzied whirl of campus life, Campus Ministry provides the calm, reflective, spirit-filled place where students and staff alike can find comfort and inspiration. For the last eight years, Sr. Ann Howard has been at the center of this place of life and spiritual growth, tireless in her quest to be present and to serve the Trinity community. Arriving at Trinity from her native Connecticut in 2017, where she had extensive experience in both healthcare ministry as well as campus ministry, Sr. Ann quickly established Campus Ministry as one of the most essential Trinity co-curricular learning activities.
With a particular emphasis on environmental awareness consistent with Pope Francis’ encyclical Laudato Si, she engaged students in tending the gardens at the Franciscan Monastery while also establishing a relationship with Casey Trees that has resulted in planting nearly 200 new trees on campus in recent years. She welcomed Mr. Cromwell who reinvigorated Trinity’s Gospel Choir, and she worked with the Paulist Fathers to ensure our weekly liturgy. From planning major liturgies to organizing the Cunneen Fellows Program to meeting with students in great need of spiritual and personal direction, Sr. Ann was always present to each of us with grace and good humor. We wish her every success in her next endeavor.
Dr. Lynda Jackson, Associate Professor of Business Administration
For Dr. Lynda Jackson, inspiring young women of color to see their pathway to great success is not just a career choice for her, it’s a passion that has driven her work at Trinity since she joined the faculty in 2012. With nearly 30 years of experience in the Air Force, rising to the rank of Colonel — a rare achievement for a Black woman in the military — Dr. Jackson has a broad network of outstanding women leaders who became part of her instructional portfolio at Trinity. More than one Air Force general graced Trinity’s classrooms at the invitation of Dr. Jackson as she built a Business program focusing on women’s leadership, with an emphasis on leadership for Trinity’s women of color. Dr. Jackson’s joy in helping her students to build confidence and lifelong skills for business success has been essential for the success of the Business Administration program. Even as she retires, we will remember her excellent lessons as Trinity continues to foster learning for leadership. We are grateful to Dr. Jackson for her many contributions to the success of Trinity Women!
Dr. Dennis Farley, Assistant Professor of Economics
“Awesome” is how students rate Professor Dennis Farley, known for his brilliance in teaching economics while also caring about every student in his classes. Since joining Trinity’s faculty in Economics in 2010, Dr. Farley has taught a wide range of courses and provided significant support to many disciplines.
Dr. Farley came to Trinity after more than 30 years at the Federal Reserve Bank, rising through the ranks of economists to become the Section Chief of the Bureau of Monetary Affairs. His broad experience at the Fed launched him on a number of international assignments, consulting to nations eager to learn about the functions and structure of the central bank, from Indonesia to Albania to, most recently, Myanmar. Closer to home, he made sure his students had opportunities to tour and learn from the Federal Reserve Bank and International Trade Commission, among other field trips.
Personally, Dr. Farley has also maintained a high interest in environmental issues, and he has worked with Dr. Patrice Nielson on projects related to Trinity’s trees. We wish Dr. Farley much continuing success in his retirement.
Mr. Andres Marin, Facilities
Hard-working, dependable, loyal — these are just some of the qualities that Andres Marin showed all of us during our 35+ years of partnership and friendship at Trinity. No request was ever too much, no job too strenuous for Andres. Whether keeping our grounds beautiful or polishing our floors so they would shine like mirrors, Andres was always on the lookout for what could make Trinity look great.
He tackled some of the hardest work on this campus with good humor and a sense of real purpose, lifting and hauling, looking out for potential dangers while leading his team to complete every project successfully. Every time it snowed, we knew we could count on Andres to be here running the plow and shoveling the walkways. We miss seeing you around, Andres, but we are so glad that you are now able to enjoy time with your family and friends. Best wishes for much happiness and joy with your beautiful family in your retirement!
Dr. Gladys Williams, Program Director for Educational Administration
While unable to attend the luncheon, Dr. Gladys Williams has been a significant part of Trinity’s School of Education for more than 15 years, organizing and leading our program in Educational Leadership and Administration. An experienced school leader, herself, she has stated her philosophy that, “I believe that there is no better role in life than that of being a teacher.” She has exemplified the excellence and dedication to student success that she expects her graduate students to model. We wish her well in her next endeavors.
At the end of yesterday’s celebration, Trinity Board Chair Amy Freeman offered closing remarks on behalf of the Board of Trustees; her remarks are below:
I’m so happy to be here on behalf of the Trustees to recognize this remarkable group.
Starting with……
Andres Marin
So, you are the one who has kept Trinity safe and beautiful these past 35 years! Whenever I walk into a Trinity building, whether the Payden Center or the Grand Main Hall, it is shining. And now I know why. Andres, the Board of Trustees is so appreciative for your service to Trinity. Thank you.
Dr. Dennis Farley and Dr. Lynda Jackson
You’ve both had such distinguished careers in the Federal Reserve and the United States Air Force. And you both generously chose to share your knowledge and experience with our Trinity students. What a way to bring Economics and Business to life in the classroom! The Board of Trustees thanks you for your service to our students.
Sr. Ann Howard
Eight years has gone by quickly! In that time, you showed us that Mission and Values are not just written documents — they are meant to drive action. Like planting trees; or gathering for communal worship or protesting against injustice. Just recently I saw your picture on the cover of the Network magazine, holding a protest sign on Capitol Hill. How fitting. Sr. Ann, the Board of Trustees thanks you for calling all of us to live the Mission and Values.
Sr. Mary Hayes
Over 70 years as student, teacher and steward of Trinity’s treasures. Sr. Mary, your life is tightly woven into the story of Trinity. Your imprint is indelible. The Board of Trustees is ever grateful to you for your scholarship; preservation of Trinity’s history and for enriching the minds of countless young women over the years. Because you are, quite simply, part of the fabric of Trinity, your legacy will never be diminished. Our profound thanks to you and God speed.
Continue reading →Read comments (1) Add CommentWho Will Champion DEI?
July 21, 2025
In an age when unprecedented governmental intimidation is forcing major universities to eliminate DEI programs, imposing shocking financial penalties for resistance, who will champion sustaining a commitment to diversity, equity and inclusion? The current political administration has embarked on an aggressive campaign to wipe out any semblance of DEI practices, claiming that DEI is illegal. This is simply not true, and yet one major university after another has bowed down to the commands of the overlords. This abject response, given ostensibly in a futile effort to protect the economic interests of the institutions, betrays higher education’s moral commitments to our students, faculty, staff and alumni — particularly those who are persons of color, or women, or immigrants, or who identify as LGBTQ, or who are marginalized in so many ways by the dominant culture. In the most diverse society the world has ever known, supporting diverse student populations in college is both a moral imperative and a social necessity for our nation’s future.
Yes, there are some courageous exceptions. Harvard has chosen a profoundly expensive legal battle; they have the resources. University of Virginia President Jim Ryan chose to resign rather than subject that venerable university to the pernicious consequences of a similar fight; UVA may suffer anyway. George Mason University President Gregory Washington, one of the best in the business and the first Black president of Virginia’s largest public university, is standing his ground — so far. He gave a rousing defense of DEI in his recent letter to the Mason community, demonstrating a model that should inspire more presidents to stand up and be counted.
Let’s talk about what IS illegal. It’s illegal, yes, to choose candidates for admission or hiring or other benefits based solely on their race or gender in ways that disadvantage or exclude others who are equally qualified. Because, historically, white males were almost always favored in hiring and admissions, generations of advocates for justice demonstrated, lobbied, marched, were beaten, imprisoned, firehosed and eventually successful in securing the enactment of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 signed by none other than that old segregationist President Lyndon B. Johnson.
As George Mason President Washington wrote in his letter to his campus community, Title VI of the Civil Rights Act “…was enacted to dismantle explicit and systemic racial discrimination that denied access to education, employment, housing, and public services based solely on race, color, or national origin. It was designed to ensure that no person in the United States would be excluded from participation in federally funded programs because of who they are.”
Now, the current political administration, in league with some very wealthy rightwing interests, is turning the civil rights victories and legal protections of the last half century on their heads, allowing the provisions of the Civil Rights Act to defeat programs and protections for the very people the law was created to help.
This perversion of the Civil Rights Act has become a weapon to undermine and destabilize the academic autonomy and mission values of colleges and universities that have long held commitments to racial and social justice as central to their work. Teaching students how to live and work together in the most diverse society the world has ever known is certainly not illegal or wrong — it is a moral imperative! Making it possible for persons who were historically barred from higher education to have opportunities to go to college is not only not illegal, it is essential to this nation’s health, security and long-term domestic peace.
The drive for inclusion of once-excluded and marginalized persons has a long history in America, pre-dating the 20th Century Civil Rights Movement. Catholics were largely excluded from America’s early colleges, so Georgetown College (now university) started in 1789 to open opportunities for Catholic men in those days. Blacks were excluded from higher education until the late 20th Century, so Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs) were founded to provide pathways into higher education starting with the founding of Cheyney University in 1837 in Pennsylvania. Women were excluded from most colleges until the mid-20th Century, so Salem College founded in 1772 led the way for women’s colleges. While these “special mission” colleges opened pathways into higher education for historically excluded persons, they did not necessarily provide the full educational, economic and social benefits of the institutions that historically served privileged white men.
In the mid-20th Century, the movements for civil rights and women’s rights propelled the opening of the most exclusive colleges and universities to all qualified students without regard for race, religion, gender or other personal characteristics. Yet, many women and students of color still felt marginalized on the newly diversified elite university campuses with the result that programs to welcome, include, support and ensure equity became imperative for diverse student populations to enjoy the full benefits of higher education. In 1972, the continuing discrimination against women in colleges led to the enactment of Title IX of the Civil Rights Act to enshrine equal opportunity for women into federal law.
Sadly, some powerful white persons now claim that making opportunities for inclusion and equitable treatment available to persons of color is illegal discrimination against whites, and some also claim that opening opportunities for women discriminates against men. Without any proof, but with improper citations to certain legal cases, these individuals are working in league with the current political administration to ban as illegal any programs that promote access and opportunity for diverse populations, using perverse interpretations of Title VI and Title IX to undermine equity initiatives.
Consider the case of Marc Andreessen, a multi-billionaire technology investor, who recently received front page attention in the Washington Post for his vicious comments about universities and DEI in a group chat on WhatsApp. The chat, supposedly on the topic of artificial intelligence, was private, but this being Washington, someone helpfully took screenshots of his comments and leaked them to the Post. In the chat, Andreessen expressed extreme hostility to DEI practices as well as immigration. The Post reported: “The combination of DEI and immigration is politically lethal,” Andreessen wrote. “When these two forms of discrimination combine, as they have for the last 60 years and on hyperdrive for the last decade, they systematically cut most of the children of the Trump voter base out of any realistic prospect of access to higher education and corporate America.” He went on to say that “my people are furious and not going to take it any more,” calling universities “ground zero of the counterattack” and declaring that, “They declare war on 70% of the country and now they’re going to pay the price.”
Who does he mean by “my people” …?? I leave it to the readers’ imaginations…
How can somebody so wealthy be so ill-informed and so angry about discrimination he has never suffered? His billions suggest that nobody has discriminated against him, to be sure. Moreover, an examination of the demographic data of the nation’s most prestigious universities confirms that students of color, especially those from marginalized backgrounds, are a tiny percentage of the student bodies — less than 10% in many cases. They are hardly taking seats from the white majority.
As well, if Andreessen did a modicum of research (or asked his AI chatbot) he would learn that thousands of seats in higher education go unfilled every year. It’s a myth that “children of the Trump voter base” do not have “any realistic prospect of access to higher education…” Access is everywhere! (ChatGPT just answered my query about how many seats go unfilled annually in American higher education with this stunning tidbit: In U.S. higher education, a striking statistic reveals that institutional capacity is under‑utilized by about 25%, meaning roughly 5 million empty classroom seats each year.”)
But, heck, what does Chat GPT know?
For real expertise on this topic, let’s talk Trinity. At Trinity, our faculty and students know a thing or two about DEI and immigration. 56% of our students are Black, 30% are Latina, 95% are women, and a substantial number are immigrants. Trinity’s ambitious, forward-thinking students know full well what it means to have a chance to go to college, how important it is to be in a university that supports them, how inspiring it is to see faculty who “look like me” in the classroom and around campus. These are students who have deep personal experience with discrimination and they are working hard in college to learn how to move forward without rancor and with purpose. Students such as ours at Trinity are not taking any seats or jobs away from anybody but they are preparing for work that our society needs so very much — nursing and healthcare, teaching and counseling, entrepreneurship and leadership in communities of high need.
Trinity’s commitment to the principles of diversity, equity and inclusion is rooted in Catholic teaching on social justice. The first tenet of social justice is the imperative to protect and honor the dignity of all human life. Our faith teachings on social justice compel us to welcome and educate diverse populations of students who were once marginalized in education and society.
Who will champion DEI?
I will! Who will join me?
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