This “informal” motto was approved by the Board of Trustees and then literally carved in stone. What would constitute a “formal” motto? The Commandments went through a somewhat similar vetting process and were delivered in the same medium; they’ve been treated as pretty formal for some time now.

It would be interesting to get Professor Singer’s thoughts on a motto that clearly elevates Homo Sapiens above all other inhabitants of our mortal coil. Inclusive? As functional societies, we’ve been around for all of maybe 30,000 out of 13.73 billion years, and yet we keep acting like we’re as good as it gets. Combined with recent events, that’s darned depressing.

Tad Lafountain ’72