A Multilingual Community

Dear members of the campus community,

I want to address an issue that has been circulating and deserves a direct response. I am sorry that a recent communication to some dining staff members has caused confusion and anxiety among our community.

Let me be clear: There is no English-only policy at the College. Holy Cross employees speak many languages, and are welcome to speak in their primary or preferred language for both work-related and personal conversations.

In areas where a group of employees do not all speak the same primary language, we expect work-related instructions to be delivered in English in addition to other languages that employees may use, so everyone is able to do their best work, and do it safely. In communicating this expectation, the intent was to be more inclusive, but the impact was that some staff members were left with the impression they must communicate only in English. That is not the case, and Human Resources and Dining leaders have been meeting with staff in the past few days to reinforce this point.

The reason I write to you all more broadly is that embracing difference is core to who we are at Holy Cross. The Catholic Church is an increasingly global one, and our community reflects that reality. Diversity is not only a strength, it is an integral part of our mission and identity as a Catholic and Jesuit institution. As Father General Arturo Sosa, S.J. has said, Jesuit higher education “involves recognizing diversity as a constitutive dimension of a full human life.”

I’m proud to say that the institution lives out these values. Being multilingual is an everyday experience at Holy Cross. Whether in worship, or in classrooms, abroad or even me practicing my Spanish with dining staff recently! This is just who we are and what we do.

In the spirit of honoring and celebrating all languages and cultural identities, JEBI will host a celebration for Asian, Pacific Islander, Desi American (APIDA) Heritage Month this evening from 6:30 to 8 p.m. with a study break in the Carey Lounge, in collaboration with Advocating Student Interest in Asia (A.S.I.A.) and our JEBI Jesuit liaison, Peter Nguyen, S.J. Please consider this a space for anyone in our community to gather.

Holy Cross is a place that brings together a diverse group of professional staff, faculty and students to join together in pursuit of excellence in teaching, learning, research and service. That commitment — to every person, in every language, from every background — is not incidental to our mission; it is at its core.

Sincerely,

Vincent D. Rougeau
President