Q&A with President Feller

47TH DAVID W.PECK LECTURE SEE PAGE FIVE APRILFebruary 23, 19,2021 2021 Q&A with President Feller Q: You’ve been President of the College you run two or three times. I don’t plan to fall. I’m not wild about being the center of the system did not work, and might not for almost a full academic year. What is the do that. attention, but I have been convinced that the have in the future...We have a lot of work biggest lesson you’ve learned in your new Q: Will the College mandate Coronavirus College needs a good party. Obviously, we’ll to do. It was a moment of relief, But quickly role at the College? vaccines for students in the fall? open up Little Giant Stadium. In addition I’ve turned my attention back towards A: Communicate, communicate, A: At this point, I don’t have enough to our campus community needing to come thinking about how we work as a college communicate. And even then you’ll realize information to make a decision. I think together, the broader Wabash Community of community and ass a world towards justice. that you haven’t quite communicated there’s several things we’ll probably learn alumni and parents and friends just haven’t Q: What advice do you have for graduating enough. That’s my one-liner for you. in coming months in terms of effectiveness been able to visit us much for the last 15 seniors? Q: If you had to do it all over again, what of the vaccines in preventing transmission. months. So we’ll look for a number of ways A: It’s always better to have more options is one thing that you’d change? We’re worried not just about protecting the in the fall for people to get that out of their than fewer. Some days it’s not fun to choose A: I’m not 100 percent sure on this individual, but about the extent to which system and be able to interact with each between options, I know it, but my advice answer, because we haven’t quite made the vaccines prevent you from passing it on other. Last Friday, being out on The Mall is don’t settle for just coming up with a Plan it through the end of the year. But at this to someone else. I think we will get more for the Celebration of Student Research A. Try to come up with plans A, B, and C point I think one thing I would reflect on is guidance from the public health agencies was great. That was really what I’ve been and really think it through and move in the that I’ve tried to strike a balance between soon...But at this point right now, we’re missing in the past year. In my mind, it’s direction that feels right. And be ready to encouraging the campus in what we’re doing in a position with vaccines similar to events like that, big and small, where we pivot. This whole year has taught us that you and giving people as much information where we were a year ago with testing. can come together and interact that will be get ahead often by being the first one able about where we stand as possible. There are It’s obvious that there is a lot of benefit. high priority. In the longer term, one of my to pivot. I think that as you figure out your days where I probably could have spinned But we’re also not clear about some of the main priorities is strengthening community. next step, don’t sell yourself short. Have the news a little more to the negative side. drawbacks, logistical or otherwise. So I’ve We’ve recently announced a grant from the multiple plans. Don’t put all your eggs in one But I really thought and continue to think been reminding myself that it was late Lilly Endowment which aims to enhance the basket. Try to get to a place where you’re that encouraging the best in people is the July (2020) before we made some tough sense of belonging for all members of the choosing between at least two options, even best path forward rather than threatening decisions about entering campus testing. We community. Not everyone has that same if it is a tough choice in the short term. In or scaring them. But I will admit that there had to make those decisions on incomplete sense of belonging, and it’s our task to try the long term, it always feels better on the were days where maybe I should have been information. So I think that’s where we’ll and improve that. It’s in its early stages, but days when you’re having to work really hard more dire in terms of relaying how things be over the next couple months. I will there’s a conversation building about how to remind yourself “Well, I did choose this, could have gone. Thankfully, things didn’t note, the college has historically required belonging and unity is held back by our lack and I’m going to move forward.” really go in a dire direction. You know, we several vaccines for matriculation...This of a true campus center. Q: How do you plan on spending your could have been in a situation like some of is something that is generally accepted Q: What do you think about the outcome summer? peer colleges did where they had to close practice and recommended by public health of the Derek Chauvin trial? A: I’m sharing the news here first. I don’t in the middle of the fall semester. We were agencies. So right now I’m watching to see A: On Tuesday afternoon we had a faculty think I’ve told many other people this, but also often in a tough situation. Maybe I what those groups say. I really want to know meeting I’m planning to get off campus and get out of should have done a little more scaring what those groups are saying come July Help is Here: Vaccines Arrive at Crawfordsville for a little bit. It’s something people, making them realize what’s at and August when we actually are in motion Wabashand thankfully it ended a little early. I haven’t done much since March 2020 when stake, and a little less encouraging. But at when it comes to coming back to campus. So So I went over to the [Malcolm X] Institute I became pretty well tied to a desk in Center the end of the year I still feel pretty good I put this one in the information gathering to be there with Dean Jones and a number of Hall. So I’m going to travel to Oregon during about where we’re at….I guess I could have phase right now. But I very much want to other brothers of the Institute. I felt it was the month of July. That’s where I grew up. tried to hold up bad example of what was emphasize that this another tool that will go an important, potentially historic moment. My son lives in Oregon. My daughter lives happening in the world and say “I don’t into keeping the campus safe. I would say personally there was a sense of in Seattle. So my wife and I have a place want this to happen at Wabash.” But I think Q: An awful lot of your experience as relief, in that it seemed to me that a guilty to stay out there. So we’ll definitely go out it’s probably going to take some time before President so far has been eaten up by verdict was the likely outcome. But, having there and enjoy a few weeks away from we can really look back and say “You know thinking about COVID-19. Once that is more lived long enough to see a lot of cases where Center Hall. I probably won’t be completely what, this is what really should have done behind you than it is now, how do you plan the cause of justice hadn’t been served, it disconnected from Zoom. But I’m excited to differently.” on spending that time? What are some of was a relief to feel that it was in this case. get myself to a different place where I can Q: I think you’ve told me before this is the your biggest priorities? I think that was the general feeling around go hiking and do some outdoor work. My world’s largest science experiment and we’re A: My hope is that next year we’re able the room. But at the end of the day feeling son has a farm so I’ll go there to help him do all going to learn the lessons from it a couple to celebrate a sense of community that relief that the system worked is not enough. some projects. I’m hoping I can disconnect years from now. we’ve been missing for about 15 months. I think we need to not take our eye off the from the business of everyday life so I can A: Exactly. You know, a good experiment We’ll have a Presidential Inauguration in the ball in terms of thinking about cases where come back here in the fall ready to go. Photo Spread: 21st Celebration of Student Research BENJAMIN HIGH ’23/ PHOTO Not only did the circumstances revolving around COVID-19 force students’ presentations to move outside on the Mall, but the ability to have more interactive, spacious presentations were possible and successful last Friday.

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