August 26, 2021
Today is my favorite day on the BYU campus. It is the first day of new student orientation. I love the buzz in the air, and I love to see these kids bursting with excitement (and nervousness) about what lies ahead.
Most of these students are very faithful Latter-Day Saints. But some of them come to us with serious concerns about their faith and their status in the church. They have deep questions that are hard to answer. Some are already rapidly proceeding towards the exits. As BYU faculty, we do everything we can to build their faith. We give them reasons to stay.
Most of these students are mentally and emotionally strong, but a rapidly growing proportion come to us with depression and anxiety. As BYU faculty, we try to help strengthen them and steer them towards resources that can help.
Most of these students come here loaded with privilege. They are very kind, good-hearted kids, but they don’t always see how that privilege has shaped their world. As BYU faculty, we try to help them see so that they can love their brothers and sisters with more empathy.
Most of these students come to us brimming with confidence, but they will all face challenges. They discover quickly that BYU is an intellectually challenging place. They learn quickly that adulthood is laced with a variety of challenges they hadn’t anticipated. And some come to us with a history of abuse, neglect, disability, or economic hardship that has stolen their confidence. As BYU faculty, we teach all of our students that they are children of God with an unlimited, divine potential.
Most of these students fit in quite easily socially, but too many feel they don’t belong. This may be due to their race or ethnicity, their economic background, their sexual orientation or identity, their family history, or any number of reasons. As BYU faculty, we welcome each of them. We let them know—regardless of where they come from—that they belong; they belong with us.
So, to all you parents out there who have or hope to have your children join us at BYU, know that we, as BYU faculty, have your back. We will love your children as we love our own. We are not perfect, but they are safe with us.
Sven Wilson, Outgoing Chair of the Department of Political Science