Editorial: Engage, Listen, Reflect
By Roxane Park, 146th Editor-in-Chief
With the election only five days away, now is the time to lean into the principles that make our community at Exeter unique. In his opening address to the Academy in September, Principal Rawson encouraged us to pursue three goals: have fun, show gratitude, and seek complex truths. These values resonate with particular urgency now, as eligible seniors prepare to cast their votes and all students have the ability to actively participate in the national discourse shaping our country’s future.
For 146 years, The Exonian has been the voice of Exeter students in our search to amplify diverse voices, advocate for thoughtful discussion, and foster a culture of intellectual curiosity on campus. In this tradition, we now invite you to join us in pushing back against the biased, oversimplified narratives that flood our screens and attempt to determine our beliefs for us.
In an era where national news and social media is increasingly polarized, it is more important than ever that we see beyond this division and embrace the difficult but rewarding work of understanding and shaping our own truths. Get off your phone, look to your left or right as you file into the Assembly hall on Friday morning; find someone whose views you may never consider aligning with, and strike up a conversation. Pursue opinions that you’ve never heard before with genuine curiosity. Hear them out. Then share what you believe, and why you do.
Whether it solidifies or broadens your own perspective, this eagerness to engage in open dialogue is what defines Exeter’s mission and your identity as a student here. It is the core of the Harkness pedagogy, thriving not on agreement but the rich interplay of respectful disagreement between our various perspectives.
These may be the last few years of your life where you are surrounded by bright students from every conceivable background, who are not only willing, but eager to listen and to be heard. As of now, Exeter’s 1,103 students come to campus from 44 U.S. states and 42 foreign countries around the world, each bringing their own values, knowledge, and perspective. Soon, we will take our places in a world that doesn’t always offer opportunity for dialogue or encourage reaching across divides. Here, however, at Exeter, we have a unique opportunity to develop the mindset and confidence that will serve us, and perhaps even society, for a lifetime. Let Exeter be our training ground to develop the skills of effective communication and listening that will prepare us for less receptive audiences in the future.
As the election nears, let us not merely consume information but actively engage with it. Don’t be afraid to talk about controversial subjects like climate change, the conflict in the Middle East, the right to abortion, religion, and AI. In a world increasingly marked by conflict, let us instead be defined by our openness, our curiosity, and our commitment to truth. This is how we fulfill the mission of Exeter — and how we prepare to contribute meaningfully to the world beyond it.
