One hallmark of President David R. Harris' tenure at Union has been encouraging members of the Union community to expand their horizons by embracing the notion of "becoming comfortable being uncomfortable."
In that spirit, President Harris re-launched the Union College Challenge, an initiative he first introduced at his inauguration in 2018, at the beginning of this academic year. The Challenge calls for members of the community to commit to trying new things, exploring new ideas or seeking out new experiences - whether big or small - and sharing their personal challenges.
President Harris is leading the way by challenging himself to broaden his exposure to music by inviting members of the community to share music that is meaningful to them - and then sitting down to discuss the music and its importance with those who share. Not only is he hoping to expand his personal playlist, but he is very much looking forward to getting to better know and understand members of the Union community through this interactions.
The initial response to President Harris' challenge has been overwhelming, but that's only part of the story. The real power of the Challenge comes in having members of the community commit to their own personal challenges.
"As excited as I am about my Union Challenge, I'm even more excited to hear about your Union College Challenge," Harris said. "What is it that makes you uncomfortable but would help you better understand yourself, and perhaps even the world, if you confronted it? I'm confident that when you confront whatever it is that makes you uncomfortable, you will reap the benefits."
