To the Class of 2028: Welcome to GW.

Going to college in the District is the draw for many at the University. It offers a distinctive experience to learn in a city that’s known for its government and politics. But you’re entering that vortex at a moment of change and turbulence for the nation, higher education and GW.

Most of the country appears divided over their political values and it is increasingly common to hear about recent turbulence over free speech at colleges throughout the country, even GW. In the wake of a wave of college student activism and scrutiny over higher education administrators and the rising cost of an education, students may feel that the campus they’re walking back into — or joining for the first time — is rapidly changing. The same uncertainty applies to D.C. at large, too, as we watch heated partisan division over the upcoming presidential election.

We step foot on campus during what feels like a precarious moment for our University and the nation. It is more crucial than ever for our newcomers and returners to remember our community’s shared mission: learning and growing, not holding yourself down.

In your first year away from home, it’s easy to drop your anchor exactly where it rested before coming to GW. You may want to lean toward people or groups of similar interests and backgrounds. It can be uncomfortable to put yourself in a situation that you’re less knowledgeable about but that vulnerability is the essence of the college experience. We are all here to learn — and you’ll learn best by seeking out spaces that you know little about.

Universities have a legacy as the epicenters of free speech, striving for mutual understanding over new ideas. At times, free speech can cause discomfort but history shows us that this expression is necessary for change. If we intend to use this University as a springboard for the rest of our lives, we must try to uphold this legacy in every facet of our GW experience.

Our campus is a melting pot of diverse backgrounds and beliefs. We don’t all have to agree on our beliefs but that doesn’t mean we should dismiss them or avoid discussing them. When our campus community starts to lose its respect for new ideas and the pursuit of knowledge, our own learning experiences are often hindered. Fear of expressing our own thoughts will lead to growing dissatisfaction with the diversity of opinion at our University. And without a shared commitment to discussing views that fall outside the popular opinion, we won’t ever quell this disappointment or evolve, especially during times when our country and campus feel fractured. To embrace discomfort is to grow as a student and as an individual.

It would be a failure of higher education if none of us reconsidered or recontextualized our beliefs while studying at GW. College is one of the last chapters of our lives where we are equipped with the academic tools to deepen our conversations and supposedly encouraged to explore and express ourselves — an opportunity that dwindles as we age and proceed down our own individual tracks.

So, in conversations, take a risk. Pursue discussions based in respect and a goal of common ground with people who many not endorse your views or values. You can ask the hard questions while validating the perspectives and experiences of your professors and friends, even those that you do not share.

There are no winners or losers in dialogue. We all come out learning or realizing something new, maybe making a new connection with someone vastly different than you — or at the very least, having one of the most memorable discussions in your college years. College is not about staying stagnant but about growing and being ever-moving. Believe deeply, and in turn, embrace and explore the depth of the opinions that surround you.

Welcome to GW. A place where we can grow as individuals and learn things we never could’ve imagined, where productive conversations are at the root of our campus — as long as we all strive to keep it that way.

The editorial board consists of Hatchet staff members and operates separately from the newsroom. This week’s staff editorial was written by Opinions Editor Andrea Mendoza-Melchor and Contributing Opinions Editor Madie Turley based on discussions with Sports Columnist Sydney Heise.