How are you, as a member of the Benedictine Community, experiencing or becoming more aware of issues surrounding race and racial injustice? Have you seen or personally experienced racism or racist behavior? Have you participated in social justice groups or initiatives? How do you think the university handles issues of race and diversity? What more do you think the university could do to support social justice and inclusion? What are your experiences as majority or minority members of this community?
In the summer of 2022, the Supreme Court overturned Roe v. Wade, the case that had served as a guarantee of the right to abortion. Now many states are passing total or near-total abortion bans. Where do you fall on the issue of abortion? What kind of laws do you think should exist to protect pregnant women or the unborn? Do you think the Supreme Court overstepped its authority, and do you think the Court should have been more swayed by public opinion on the issue? Are you afraid that the Court will go on to repeal other rights not otherwise protected by federal legislation? In the wake of this repeal, what actions do you think state and local governments should take?
Whatever your political leanings, I think we can all agree that America is having a rough time. We are experiencing unprecedented political turmoil over the 2020 election, how and when votes can legally be cast or overturned, and by whom, and what actions Americans can and should take if they feel that a free and fair election has not been held. How do you think America should do better? How do these events make you feel as an American and as a voter? What do you see as the unique challenges of this historical moment?
How are you, as a member of the Benedictine Community, experiencing and responding to the COVID-19 pandemic? How has this event impacted you or changed your perspective? What has your Benedictine experience been, or how has it changed due to this worldwide health crisis? What do you want to tell us about the past year in your life?
America seems to be experiencing an epidemic of gun violence and mass shootings. Every year seems to bring more mass-casualty events than the previous. Schools and businesses across the country now conduct Active Shooter drills with the same frequency as fire or severe weather drills. What do you think America should be doing to address gun violence? How has the threat of mass shootings affected you as a member of a college community?
Although the war in Ukraine is physically distant, the impacts have reverberated around the world. What impact has the war had on you? How has it changed your worldview, how you think about foreign affairs, or your outlook on the future?
How are you, as a member of the Benedictine Community, experiencing and responding to current events and politics? Our current moment in history is full of divisions and violence, injustice, and political turmoil. The current events impact all of our community members to different extents and in different ways. How have recent events made you feel? Have they motivated you to action? Have they made you feel scared or alone? Have they made you enraged and desperate for justice? Tell us how you feel; tell us what you want to change; tell us what you wish would happen. Tell us how to make Benedictine a place where you feel safe and welcome. Tell us how Benedictine has supported you. Tell us how you feel Benedictine has failed you. Express yourself, and make your voice heard!
What experiences or events have impacted you as an individual? What has your Benedictine experience been like? What do you love about being a part of the Benedictine Community? What would you like to see change? What do you want future members of the Benedictine Community to know and remember about the Benedictine of today? What do you want researchers to find when they are looking back on this moment in time? When you come back for homecoming in 50 years, how do you want your class represented?
These are rotating topics that we will introduce in response to current events or in response to community recommendations. You may submit responses to any of these topics at any time! Submit to the current #ForTheRecord topic using the box on the left, or submit to a previous topic by clicking the button below and choosing a topic from the dropdown menu.
With the rise in cases due to the Omicron variant of COVID-19, Benedictine University has decided to open the Spring 2022 semester with virtual classes. How do you feel about your Benedictine learning or teaching experience being virtual versus in person? What do you like about online learning? What do you miss most about in-person classes?
It's officially Spooky Season, and did you know that Benedictine has quite the reputation for being haunted? Share your Benedictine paranormal experiences with us!
Welcome back to campus! Returning community members, what is some advice that you have for those new additions to the Benedictine family? What was something you wish that you had known when you first came to BenU? New students, tell us about your orientation and move-in experience? And all community members, as we return to campus after a long pandemic season, feel free to share pictures of your dorm room, office, or workspace. Best of luck in the new academic year!
It's been an interesting school year, and we've all had to adapt to these uncertain circumstances. Show us a picture or tell us how you've adapted your space to fit your needs during the COVID-19 pandemic. Bonus points if your shot is photobombed!
We welcome submissions that reflect your life experience as a member of the Benedictine Community. You can submit written entries of any length, photos, or videos. While we encourage submissions focused around certain topics, and submission that describes either your experiences as part of the Benedictine family or experiences that have impacted you as an individual member of our community are encouraged and accepted.
Your experiences do not have to be positive or uplifting; we seek a wide range of stories that will show successes and failures. Your submissions will be part of the historical record of the University and its wider community, and we want your experiences to provide and accurate and holistic representation of the times in which you live and the moment in which you find yourself. All that we ask is that your submissions accurately and honestly reflect your perceptions and experiences. We hope that in seeking out your contributions, we will be providing resources for both the present and the future to better understand and analyze this moment in time at Benedictine.
You may use the forms included on this page to submit experiences based on the provided topics or prompts, or you can use the general submission form to submit an experience that was important, impactful, or formative to you. Submissions on all topics from all members of the community are welcome and encouraged. Your experiences can be from your time as a member of the Benedictine community, or from any point in your life before or after. We want to record and understand your time as part of the community, but we also value your personal experiences simply as a member, for however long, of the Benedictine family.
We thank you for your contributions.
