Built by wealthy philanthropist Andrew Carnegie in 1901, the Sandusky library was the first of three Carnegie libraries in Ohio. Today its motto reads, “giving all people opportunities to enrich their lives;” surely this library has passed this legacy on for more than 100 years.
We all desire to leave some kind of legacy. To leave a place, or to leave this life, in such a way that no one notices is universally appalling. We tend to associate legacies with famous people, like Andrew Carnegie, Jackie Robinson or Charles Darwin.
But, whether we know it or not, each of us leaves a legacy, for good or for ill.
More to the point: Of what quality is the legacy that trails behind us?
Some legacies are better than others. In fact, some legacies are outright harmful. Since we all leave a legacy, and some legacies are better than others, wisdom suggests we strive to leave a legacy of notable worth, ideally one of ultimate worth.
Faculty Commons is shaped by the enduring notion of legacy. Jesus told us, “Every student, when he is fully trained, will be like his teacher” (Luke 6:40). So we strive to give every student the opportunity to learn from Christ-loving professors. We think this legacy has the power to transform both students and professors, as well as the university, our country, and the world.
We also strive to ensure that Christian perspectives and values are included in the university culture, so they become a piece of the university’s legacy for years to come. Further, each professor has a powerful legacy. Some see this primarily along the lines of a C.V. (resume), publications, or academic accomplishments.
Yet one could easily argue the most enduring legacy of a professor is found in the thousands of students who now reflect their teacher in what he or she taught and valued.
The library in Sandusky is a beautiful reminder that the world we live in is assuredly shaped by the legacies of those who have gone before us. So let’s work to ensure that Christ is a powerful part of the legacy through which our universities shape future generations.
Let’s pull together to pass along that which is of inestimable value.
Rick Hove
Executive Director
Faculty Commons