I remember it so clearly: I was sitting outside during my first weekend of college, a book open in my lap. It was my first assignment, from my first religion course. Problems of Religious Thought sounded like it would be fun, based on what I knew from my high-school World Religions course. And then I tried to read Søren Kierkegaard’s Fear and Trembling. After I puzzled my way through perhaps ten of the 200 pages we were assigned, I looked up and thought: Oh no. I’m not ready for this.

Now that classes and finals are over and the community awaits graduation festivities, the campus is quieter and calmer. Although the energy and excitement of the school year will be missed, we now have a chance to reflect on the year. We were very busy here at Radius, sponsoring and co-sponsoring many events that tackled topics ranging from environmental justice and sustainablity to nuclear weapons.

At this point in the semester, our ethics seminar steps back and takes stock of the richness of information and discussion that has taken place over the semester. This spring, we’ve covered topics that include the role of the media in how politics play out, how to become responsible information and news consumers, the power of anger in creating social change and nuclear proliferation and the US military budget.  Underlying all of these conversations is the exploration of how and why ethical and moral frameworks matter.

As we begin the first day of classes at MIT, there is always a sense of excitement and possibilty. Each spring semester for the past 8 years, Radius has been co-sponsoring an undergraduate seminar with the MIT Department of Philosophy, under the leadership of Professor Sally Haslanger. The seminar, Being, Thinking, Doing (Or Not!): Ethics in Your Life, is a weekly class where students discuss ethical issues over dinner.

Last Saturday, the world witnessed an unprecedented display of resistance and solidarity. It will come as no surprise to our constituents that our mission's foundation is grounded in the belief that all people deserve to be treated with dignity and that human rights are meant for every single one of us. The marches around the world were also grounded in this belief. As we face the realities around us, it's important to stay engaged and to know that your voice can be heard.