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K-State Today

May 18, 2011

President Schulz comments on local issues

Submitted by Cheryl May

Kirk Schulz

Dear Faculty and Staff:

There has been a lot of discussion among the K-State family lately about various local political issues. I have heard a lot of discourse and appreciate the many differing viewpoints being offered. One role of a public university is to provide a forum for the civil exchange of ideas relative to our society.

Frequently, I am asked what role the university should play in supporting various issues in one of the many communities we serve. With a three-campus system, and through K-State Research and Extension, we need to keep in mind that K-State has a presence in communities throughout the state. Our goal is to remain consistent in our approach to governmental and community relations and look out for the long-term interests of the university. What we do or say in one community should apply in our approach to others.

As the first public university in the state and the first land grant college in the nation, the mission of Kansas State University is to provide access to a quality, affordable education for the citizens of Kansas. We are justifiably proud of this mission and take it to heart. As such, our policies and our actions are focused on creating an environment supporting student success. We want members of the K-State family to feel comfortable on all of our campuses, regardless of who they are or what they believe.

One thing we can control is how we treat people on our campuses, and at our research facilities and extension offices. Kansas State University is known as a friendly, welcoming, and inclusive place; this remains a crucial part of our ethos. We oppose all types of discrimination, whether it is because of race, sexual orientation or any other factor. We are a family, defined in many ways. Thank you for the many suggestions and comments, keep them coming.

Go Cats!