ENDNOTE Trinity College President Joanne Berger-Sweeney Rules of civility Every Action done in Company, ought to be with Some Sign of Respect, to those that are Present. Rules of Civility and Decent Behavior in Company and Conversation Rules of Civility by Amor Towles, an clear: civility calls upon us to respect not have a book with 110 rules of civility, investment executive turned novelist, everyone we encounter. but the college provides guideposts and describes a clever, brash heroine who It seems that in our current society , a space in which they can create their is introduced to upper-class 1930s we have lost some of the rules of ci- vil own civil rules. They will do so based New York society through an unusual ity in our interactions. This leads to on values from their upbringing cou- and somewhat unfortunate set of events. me think about why. There’s no ques- pled with those they acquire living and The story follows the heroine as she tion that political divides have torn at learning on campus, where they interact deifnes her own values and observes our civility, but these circumstances with people from across society and the the strict rules of civility to which others preceded our most recent presidential world. Their time here will give them the adhere. These rules, and the title of elections. The seeds of divisiveness have empathy, careful listening skills, and value system to guide them, and we will the novel, were based on the Rules of been laid for decades and are the fodder Civility and Decent Behavior in Company for incivility. Recently, I heard a trou- provide innumerable opportunities to and Conversation, a book containing bling prediction from a political watcher use their rules—to practice, revise, prac- 110 principles that originated from a set in Washington, D.C., who foresees that tice, and revise. of guidelines authored by French Jesuits every four years we will see a lfip in Higher education—and Trinity’s in the late 16th century. The guidelines political power, that we will be swinging residential liberal arts experience— were popularized when our country’s back and forth regularly, because each provides the pathway for our students’ ifrst president, George Washington, a side will block, with a complete lack of transformative educational experience, teenager at the time, handwrote a copy civility, any progress the other side tries which evolves from simply what students of them. It is said that Washington’s to make. We all can play a role in chan-g do to what they live and who they are. ing this problematic prediction; we can That journey fosters not only their int-el actions helped him internalize the ideas, albeit imperfectly, in turn molding his be a part of a more civil future. lectual development but also the social character. While it should be said that My thoughts go back to a young and moral growth that can contribute Washington didn’t practice all of what George Washington, who was trying to to a more civil society. As an institu- he learned, I was struck by rule number learn these rules of civility, not too far tion of higher education, we welcome one—the excerpt at the top of this letter— removed from the age of Trinity’s enter- this extraordinary responsibility and privilege. And every single person who and its relevance for our Trinity commu- ing students. It’s at this time of life that nity today. our students are exploring the rules of beneifts—or beneifted—from a Trinity This rule guides us to show respect social connections and interactions and College education has the ability and for one another—no matter who or trying to discern how those rules will responsibility to share the fruits of their what is involved. It doesn’t dictate guide them and shape their own values. experiences here with others. We are that we should respect someone onl y As I told our newest ifrst-years when they now ambassadors of the rules of civility; if that person looks or sounds like us took their places on the Main Quad at we can model how to interact with others or agrees with our opinion; no, it is September’s Convocation, Trinity may with respect. 80 THE TRINITY REPORTER