First experiences often define the nature of a lasting relationship. When people of different races and cultures are brought together suddenly in an MIT classroom, the teaching staff has a special responsibility to be sensitive to the diverse sets of feelings and viewpoints brought to the table by all members of the group, not just by those in the numerical majority.

During the fall semester, I teach 3.091, "Introduction to Solid State Chemistry." Because it satisfies the freshman chemistry requirement, the majority of students in the class are freshmen. In this sense, 3.091 is representative of a group of subjects known as the Science Core, much of which is taken by students in their first semester at MIT. For many students, this is their first exposure to a population of classmates that is, on the one hand, more diverse culturally than the student bodies of their high schools but, on the other hand, less diverse academically, i.e., much more similar in terms of academic prowess (a room full of students all of whom are accustomed to being at the top of the class). This combination can be a recipe for disaster if a student cannot focus on his or her studies owing to concerns about fitting in. Some students may feel excluded from study groups because of the color of their skin or some aspect of their cultural background. Some students may feel that their teaching assistant shows preference to others for the same reasons.

Because the Science Core builds the theoretical foundation for subsequent studies and sets the pace of learning, Core instructors have a critical responsibility to ensure that a student's first semester at MIT is a positive academic experience. The faculty and teaching staff are acutely aware of the need to ensure that no one is made to feel unwelcome.

Growing up in Canada in the 1950s and 1960s, I felt the sting of intolerance directed at a minority group by those in the majority, and this has made me particularly sensitive to the needlessly destructive effect of prejudice. Accordingly, I make it my highest priority to establish and maintain a fertile learning environment where all are free to learn and reach their fullest potential. Welcome, everyone, to MIT.