POSTED BY MARTIN KICH

The following statement has been released by the Conference on College Composition and Communication (CCCC), which is affiliated with the National Council of Teachers of English (NCTE):

Language is powerful. It empowers individuals to explore and change themselves and their worlds. A belief in this power of language and the abilities of writers to ethically use language is a core principle of the Conference on College Composition and Communication. 

The recent election provided examples of language being used to disempower and demean. In light of these events, CCCC stands strongly for the use of fact-based reasoning, writing, and communication to build a better, more ethical, more engaged nation. As an organization, CCCC reaffirms its commitments to cultivating thoughtful speakers and writers, to ethical teaching and research, and to classrooms that engage the full range of the power and potential of writers and writing.

Acting on these commitments requires respect for diversity, equity, social justice, and intellectual and pedagogical freedom. CCCC is proud to support its members, who every day engage writers from all backgrounds and cultures to explore how writing can be used to foster responsible and respectful inquiry and discussion across a range of public, academic, and civic contexts.