探花族

To our 探花族 family:

As we approach this holiday season and a welcome break from classes, papers, meetings, and events, we have an opportunity again this year to choose how to spend our newfound free time. Many of us might default to a familiar daily regimen of staying faithfully connected to current events, friends, and family through smartphones and social media.

This season, I鈥檇 like to invite you to join my family as we rethink those behaviors in one small way. Maybe you鈥檒l want to try it, too.

In the coming weeks, my family is pressing 鈥減ause鈥� on all of our screens for 24 hours. Yes, 24 consecutive hours. We鈥檒l set aside a portion of our time off this month to go completely off the grid and invest those hours much more deliberately. We expect to shift鈥攊n our own world鈥攖he sobering statistics about 鈥渃onstant online engagement鈥� in our broader society, and we hope to once again celebrate genuine face-to-face expression wherever possible. As some might say, be authentic.

To be clear: I鈥檓 not crusading against online tools and social media universally. We all acknowledge that these can be useful to promote innovation and productivity. We certainly employ these tools as a University to great benefit. We offer online and hybrid courses, using the latest technology across our academic offerings. But technology is the tool, not the master. Simply, I believe in using it with restraint and thought, rather than blindly turning our time and attention over to those ever-present devices so easily each day.

Please consider joining us in giving the gift of your true presence this holiday season. Consider unplugging everything for 24 hours. I鈥檓 inviting you to make this a season of thoughtfulness, less distraction. Scribble a short note鈥攁n actual note on paper鈥攖o someone you've been meaning to thank or wish well and offer the rarest of your possessions: your thoughts.

We can also take time to ask ourselves big questions or build in some quiet time for those we love. Read, talk, exercise, visit a museum, go for a walk, hit a golf ball, head to a nearby park, ride a bike, carry around that little one who helps make the holidays so special, listen to music, or dream a bit. Create some space for yourself to think. We all need that to nourish the heart and mind.

And beyond recharging our devices and taking a break from social media, let us be encouraged to recharge ourselves over the days ahead. You may be surprised by the result.

I believe it makes us better as an institution and richer as a University family. Often, that鈥檚 when our best ideas happen鈥攊n moments of reflection. Engage with people like never before, and most of all this season, let us live and love well.

With warmest regards and wishes for a happy holiday season,

Tim Cost
President
探花族
Class of 1981