Critical issues in and concerns about campus leadership

First of three parts

I would like to share my speech on the topic “Critical Issues and Concerns on Campus Leadership” during the Annual Convention and Seminar Workshop for Campus Advisers and the 13th Annual National Convention and Seminar Workshops for Student Leaders held in Baguio last year attended by more or less 600 faculty-advisers and student leaders from the different regions in the country.

In the letter of the president of your association, I am tasked to discuss critical issues and concerns on campus leadership. As an educator who believes that the school campus is a fertile ground in developing, shaping and molding the future leaders and citizens of the country, there are things that should be addressed to. Just a word of caution; my talk is more focused on the spiritual and ethical aspects of leadership. These aspects or areas if you may call them are closely related and therefore contributing to socio-cultural, mental and educational, physical and health, and financial and career goals in one’s life.

A. Character: Does it Matter?

Yes, character matters. In fact character John C Maxwell claims that “character is everything.” Character, said President Calvin Coolidge “is the only secure foundation of the state.” What makes people want to follow a leader? Why do people reluctantly follow one leader while passionately following another? What separates leadership theorists from successful ones who lead effectively in the real world? The answer lies in the character qualifies the person. Leaders cannot rise above the limitations of their character (Maxwell).

The Josephson Institute of Ethics identified these six pillars of character.

1. Trustworthiness

Ethical people are worthy of trust. Trustworthiness means being honest, having integrity, keeping your promises and being loyal. Without trust you have nothing. It is the glue that holds people together.

2. Respect

Respect is earned. We must first respect ourselves before we expect others to respect us. Let us always remember that every person has the right to our respect.

3. Responsibility

We must be accountable for our own actions and decisions, practice self-restraint and always do our best. Churchill once said “the price of greatness is responsibility.”

4. Justice and Fairness

Fairness is one of the mist difficult values, because it means doing the right thing even if others don’t agree regardless of our relationship by consanguinity or affinity. We must try to do what we know is fair and just.

5. Caring

Caring is concern for the interest of others. Caring is being compassionate giving priority to the feelings and acting positively on it without or with less regard for himself. The parable of the Good Samaritan exemplifies love and caring for other.

6. Civic Virtue and Citizenship

Responsible citizenship means being involved in public service. This includes voting, reporting crimes, testifying as a witness, protecting the environment and working for the candidate of our choice.

Closely related to these pillars of character are two issues. These are:

1. Character is really important, Character really matters. Without character, it would be unthinkable to talk of truth, trust, justice, freedom, community and stability. A leader cannot buy courage and decency. He can’t rent a strong moral sense. True character will be revealed in the crucible of leadership. As they say “ the ultimate measure of a man is not where he stands in moments of comfort and convenience, but where he stands at times of challenge and controversy.”

2. Character is inevitably rooted in conviction. President Harry S. Truman once remarked “A man cannot have character unless he lives within fundamental system of morals that creates character.” Character does not emerge from a vacuum; it is tied to convictions that shape not only a leader’s life, but also the politics he represents. Character consists of beliefs as well as actions. While reputation is made in a moment, it takes a lifetime to build one’s character. –FELIZARDO Y. FRANCISCO, Manila Times

Part two of this speech will be in Dr. Francisco’s column next Friday.

opinion@manilatimes.net