Howard W. Hewitt – What is it that goes on while the world changes, babies are born, terrorist plots are hatched and shifting of the earth’s crust? “E-mail,” was the answer suggested Thursday by Dean of the College Gary Phillips.
Dean Phillips was the second Chapel Talk of the new year and closely followed the themes set forth the previous week by President Patrick White. The President urged students to make their communication with the Wabash community a face-to-face experience.
Phillips tackled the challenge of e-mail noting that daily incoming and in-house e-mail averages 37 messages a day for every member of the Wabash community.
“Maybe we should change inbox to incoming,” he quipped. Using classical references and the writings of the Apostle Paul he urged students to think about how e-mail is used at the College.
He quoted several studies on the costs of e-mail, the amount of time everyone spends responding to e-mail and described the technology as a bit of a “loose cannon.”
“We forget the brother or sister sitting before the display on the other end,” he said.
He offered four points for “Writing the Wrongs” of e-mail usage. The first was ‘critique.’ He urged the big crowd not to judge in advance and think seriously about what they have written. Second, he urged “conscience” noting that a screen is not a face. His third point was “community.”
“How will what is being said enhance one another,” he questioned. Finally, the Dean suggested “care” completed the package. When firing off an e-mail do we show and express a caring for each other.
You can listen to the complete talk by podcast, which should be available later today.
