Promote Conversation, Not Intimidation

This week, The Exonian published a news analysis about Academy administrators who have engaged members of the community in conversations regarding their publicly voiced opinions, whether printed in The Exonian or spoken at school forums.After several of these meetings, students felt that the administrators had abused their position of power. Instead of what is perhaps meant to be a productive discussion, the students perceived these conversations as ultimately intimidating. The power imbalance in these meetings hinders debate and can result in a one-sided conversation.The administrators may be trying to fulfill their role as teachers and role models on campus, but that is often not the result. There is a disconnect between intent and effect, between administrator and student.In the name of Phillips Exeter's commitment to open thought and provocative discussion, The Exonian takes pride in its role of initiating conversations and sparking debate throughout campus, especially amongst the various layers of students, faculty and administration that compose the Academy community.In some cases, these conversations are necessary after incorrect statements, and administrative feedback clarifies and corrects these. This improves The Exonian as a whole and enhances the opinions of the student body.The Exonian, however, condemns a culture that threatens the cultivation of free ideas and publication of open dissent. It is our responsibility to ensure that our writers, in addition to the Academy community as a whole, maintain the right to share their opinions freely. Voicing both support and dissent is crucial to a community that strives to balance its commitment to centuries of tradition with its role as a leader in education.Although in some cases, these conversations, intimidating or not, may move debates forward, the climate of fear they help to promote is more damaging than the debates are helpful.One of our greatest academic philosophies is the Harkness method, and any actions that encourage self-censorship work against the Academy’s pedagogy. We define "self-censorship" as when, due to external pressure, one feels the need to stifle his or her own voiced opinions or ideas.We cannot continue to let fear of administrators create a community which is fearful of voicing any opinions. We must promote productive, encouraging conversations by expanding our Harkness ideology outside of the classroom and stand firmly behind it. The Exonian is meant to spark discussion, and we encourage that, but it must be constructive.In conclusion, we would like to challenge administrators to be more aware of both the intended and unintended effects of their actions and speech on not just the student body, but on this institution as a whole.Administrators must remain sharply conscious of the consequences of their inherent power and ways it is exercised.Failure to do so is not only an offense to the students and faculty in our community, but an act hypocritical to the core ideals and values that Phillips Exeter Academy has represented for more than two centuries.