Last spring, Wofford embarked on a strategic visioning process to map out its direction in the coming years. The culmination of these months of planning has now been released in the form of the “Strategic Vision,” nearly completed though yet to be officially finalized.

Students, faculty and staff have been asked for their feedback on this vision. As we read the vision, we noticed many new facilities will be added to Wofford: a replacement/renovation for Marsh, a new Greek village, a new arena, and more. Many students agree these are good things, but in most cases, to add one thing is to lose or at least deemphasize another. If we build a “new Marsh,” we will lose old Marsh (and no one mourns this). When we build a new Row, we will get rid of the old Row (and only a few varmints will regret the change). If we build a new basketball arena, the arena that is now BenJo will be diminished in importance. We believe these are all changes for the good, but the principle stands that to add one thing is to lose or deemphasize another. This is true with facilities and it is true in other realms. In reading the vision, we began to grow discontent with what we read. It was difficult to pinpoint what it was exactly, but then a thought occurred to us: if we are adding all of these new things to the college, what are we losing? When one value is raised into importance, others are lowered incrementally. This is not necessarily bad (like replacing Marsh), but it depends on what it is we are losing.

We thought about some very basic, yet important, words that embodied the Wofford College tradition: character, integrity, honor – all essential in a free society in determining right from wrong, good from evil. From its inception, Wofford College has sought to fortify and build these traits in its students. And yet, in the 38 page strategic vision, only character merited a single mention. We believe these words should be more prevalent in a college with a motto “Shining with untarnished honor,” with a revered Honor Code, and with a mission statement that’s focus leads with “a commitment to excellence in character.”

We believe the oversight is sadly telling. In the strategic vision’s pursuit of things such as diversity (mentioned 43 times), sustainability (25 times) and engagement (55 times), these values, which have been the very bedrock of Wofford College for 160 years, are now being forgotten. How will students conduct themselves rightly in dealing with those different from themselves if they have not honor? What good is engagement if one does not have the character to guide actions? What better to strengthen the cause of sustainability if not integrity?

For diversity, sustainability and engagement to truly benefit the Wofford community and society as a whole, character, integrity and honor must be inexorably linked to Wofford’s vision for the future. If these three values do not have a place in Wofford’s vision, then we have lost something – something dear. These are unmoving beacons to guide the course, unshakeable anchors to stay the course through storms and straits. Let us never lose sight of this.