At Washington University’s 2016 Commencement on Friday, Congressman John Lewis challenged the new graduates to become activists. “If you see something that is not fair, that is not right, that is not just, you must have the courage to do something about it,” Lewis said. “Get in the way.”
Speaking in a region that has become known world-wide for protests of police – for protestors who “got in the way” of police killing unarmed civilians – Lewis did not sound any Ferguson keynote. Asked about police protests in a brief interview with The American afterwards, the congressman sounded far from the confrontational tones of Ferguson protestors. “It is my hope that young people will respect police officers and police officers would respect young people,” Lewis told The American. “There needs to be a greater coming together, a greater dialogue, and maybe police officers and young people should do what we did during the sixties – go through non-violent training and respect the dignity and the worth of every human being.”
Some Washington University students have shown commendable activism in recent years, organizing to improve adjunct faculty conditions, fighting for a minimum wage increase and marching alongside Ferguson protestors. At recent Commencement ceremonies, the university’s ties to controversial local corporations were the subject of student protest actions. But there was no student protest at the Commencement where Lewis challenged students to protest.
However, there was one brave voice of protest at the 2016 Commencement, and it came from an unexpected, unlikely quarter: Chancellor Mark S. Wrighton.
“Today, death and injury from guns represents one of our country’s greatest public health challenges with about 30,000 deaths annually and about double that number of injuries annually from guns,” Wrighton told the graduates and their families. “Roughly two-thirds of the deaths are suicides, and others are homicides and accidents.” It’s not especially common for the chancellor of an elite university to address the national epidemic of gun violence, but it’s even more rare – and much more risk-taking – to localize this tragedy to the campus that he presides over.
“One month ago,” Wrighton continued, “just a few hundred yards from where I am speaking, an assailant in a passing car on Forsyth Boulevard discharged a gun multiple times aiming at a member of our community. Fortunately, in this instance the victim will recover and no bystanders were injured or killed.” The shooting – which as of press time had resulted in no arrests, according to the Clayton Police Department, which is investigating – made national news, so everyone in Wrighton’s audience was aware of the incident. But for the chancellor to address gun violence in the St. Louis region, indeed right on the edge of campus – a factor that hinders Washington University’s avid competition to attract the world’s brightest, most sought-after students – on the university’s most upbeat day of the year, Commencement, shows a courage and commitment in Wrighton that earns our highest respect.
The chancellor saw something that is not fair, that is not right, that is not just, and – as Congressman Lewis demanded – he had the courage to do something about it.
“Over a year ago,” Wrighton told the Commencement crowd, “our university undertook an initiative to reduce death and injury from guns, addressing the problem as a public health challenge. It is my hope that those returning for their reunion 50 years from now will view this public health crisis as one dealt with long, long ago. Like automobile safety measures and reducing the use of tobacco products, overcoming death and injury from guns will involve time, technological advances, and policy changes. Let’s get started!” Chancellor Wrighton is “getting in the way” – he is getting in the way of gun violence. It is a rare and daring move, and something this troubled region needs dearly right now. Chancellor Wrighton, we commend you for your outspoken leadership, and we are with you in this important work.
