When I was a young boy, I often assisted my father as we worked on our house. A common and well-known phrase he would always say is: “measure twice and cut once.” That was such a simple phrase. At the time, I applied it to carpentry and being certain of a measurement before permanently altering something. If the measurement was off, it could increase the cost of the project or it could impact the integrity of the item being built. That phrase still resonates with me because it is applicable to how we interact today on various social media platforms.
For the past two weeks, concerned citizens in our community have been sending screenshots of comments made by individuals they believe are associated with the college. These screenshots reveal bigotry and language with racist tones. In the past, such language may have been downplayed, but we are in the era of the COVID-19 pandemic and civil protests against unfair treatment of marginalized people both nationally and internationally. Many people are stressed, frustrated, and some are simply not willing to tolerate such actions. It is very important that we remember that everyone is entitled to share their thoughts and express themselves as they see fit. However, one must be mindful of not engaging in social media exchanges that could have an adverse impact on how our students and our colleagues see us. It is always best to maintain civility in our discourse. We are living in unprecedented times which call for us to be more aware of the political and social tone. Consequently, I implore you to think twice before you hit send.
Thank you,
Ainsley Thomas
Chief Diversity Office
P.S. In 2019, our Office of Human Resources published social media guidelines for all college employees. Those guidelines recognize that employees are important ambassadors of Hudson Valley and their social media presence and engagement may reflect on the college’s reputation and affect members of our community.
You can access the guidelines at: https://www.hvcc.edu/hr/employee-handbook/socal-media.html
Published: Thu, 25 Jun 2020 12:10:15 +0000 by a.thomas1