The very status of our University, which is “national state” and its almost 145-year history have always determined and still determine the attitude of TSU toward the events in Russia and around the globe. The Imperial Tomsk University was originally established for the benefit and prosperity of Russia. Therefore, our position is unambiguous: we have always been and are with our country and its leaders. In the 20th century, Russia had to endure many difficult trials. Tomsk State University shared in this along with the entire nation. Every time both the country and our university became stronger. Believe me, it will happen this time too!
Perhaps the situation we are all going through right now is more difficult than ever. I mean that most of our young people and even many of our colleagues were not ready to distinguish truth from untruth. However, this is what is most important right now! Yes, we have all talked too long and too much about the clear benefits of digitalization and too little about its inevitable negative consequences, including the “digitalization” of brains. As a result, a whole generation of young people has grown up with no thoughtful reading skills. They quickly orient themselves in the flow of information, but are not able to recognize fakes. They know Google settings well, but they know world and national history poorly. However, we should not blame them, because this was and is OUR responsibility.
This is not only the misfortune of Russian youth; it is the common misfortune of modern generations all over the world. We simply have to pay for our mistakes before others. We will be the first to deal with this problem! A hundred years ago, one of the main tasks for Russia was the eradication of illiteracy among the many millions of adults. At first, the goal seemed absolutely unreachable, but it turned out to be solved very successfully and in the shortest time possible. The secret was simple: both teachers and students were extremely motivated to succeed. They understood that without this the country would not overcome devastation. A phrase from a primer for adults from those times, “We are not slaves, slaves are not who we are!” became one of the symbols of that era. Today, this phrase carries new meanings. We must teach the youth (and not only the youth!) not to be slaves of uncritical thinking, slaves of defeatist sentiments. This task is included in the circle of paramount ones along with the tasks of ensuring security and increasing the technological power of Russia.
Our viewpoint and goals are determined by another of TSU’s status, which is "research". It obliges us to be smart and responsible for all our decisions, actions, and their consequences. I am convinced that we should not force young people to participate in any public activities, the meaning of which they understand little or do not understand at all. Otherwise, we will lose contact with them forever. First, we need to explain their meanings, teach them to distinguish between truth and untruth, and wait for their initiative. Of course, there are also young people who have already figured out their stance, and it coincides with ours. They see that social networks are managed by those who want to bring chaos to our minds, so they are working on overcoming this chaos and its destructive thinking. I am sure that others will follow their example sooner or later. But such work must be carried out by conviction, not “by order,” otherwise it will be useless.
We have already begun to organize online and offline discussion platforms for dialogue with young people. However, this does not mean that young people should only sit, listen and follow. An active stance cannot be formed that way. Therefore, now it is very important for universities to direct the energy of young people to what they ALREADY UNDERSTAND and what is of great value to society. For example, various forms of volunteer work. Now, more than ever, many people need help: elderly persons, children, disabled persons, and shut-ins. Services such as the delivery of food and medicine, the clearing of snow and so on are required.
We should not forget to tell young people that a crisis also means new opportunities for the country and every person. Yes, many businesses will close, but even more will reopen. The mobilization economy will gain momentum every day. Brilliant people with excellent skills will be needed everywhere. Our youth and all of us have a future, because our country has huge resources that cannot be taken away to foreign banks: this is a vast territory, natural resources, and the talents of the people. Russian culture will shake off the gray foam of postmodernity and begin to "burn people's hearts with the word."
Yes, we will have to revise a lot and radically change the system of education on all levels. We will do all that in the very near future. But now we all have to realize as soon as possible that it is we who are currently creating Russian history and creating the future for our children and grandchildren. There are two options: either they will become slaves and outcasts in all subsequent generations, or they will be free people. We have no back to hide behind. There is truth, and it is on our side.
At the same time, we must admit that our society is now more polarized than ever. There are many reasons for that, including the fact that today no one has absolutely reliable information. In these conditions, I ask all of you to refrain from sudden and overly emotional judgments. Take a balanced position in relation to what is happening, based on broad historical contexts and generally accepted facts, not on unverified information. Common sense, relative stability, and creative energy have appeared in all kinds of turbulent times. Usually, universities were places for all of that, since their mission, among other things, is to maintain a culture of facts and their verification.
How can we help ourselves and others to survive in difficult life situations? This question was raised by many philosophers and scientists, including the famous psychologist Salvatore Maddi. His idea was that it is resilience that is the core personal characteristic, largely responsible for a person's success in coping with adverse life circumstances; and that it is the sum of three components —engagement, control, and risk taking. Engagement is the involvement of a person in his or her activities, primarily professional and social, and the events taking place around him or her. Control is the ability to motivate oneself to find ways and means of changing a stressful situation, avoiding a state of helplessness and relying on analytical thinking, the ability to build cause-and-effect relationships, etc. Risk acceptance is an understanding of the inevitability of risk as a kind of life challenge and test on one hand, and as an invaluable opportunity to gain new experience and learn new lessons on the other. In addition, resilience also includes such basic values as cooperation (collaboration), trust, and creativity.
Maddi came up with the idea as a result of serious research, which he conducted with colleagues in the late 1970s and early 1980s in one of the major American telephone companies, which was in a state of radical transformation. The company's transition to new technology led to massive layoffs, and the remaining employees were in a constant state of stress due to fear of being fired or not being able to cope with the work that had become more difficult. Maddi's research group studied the reactions and behavior of 450 managers and came up with very interesting results. In two-thirds of the subjects, health deteriorated markedly in a situation of constant stress, as did their performance and relationships with loved ones. The remaining third of the employees, on the contrary, felt healthier than before. The performance indicators of their productivity became higher, as well as the quality of communications with colleagues and relatives. Even those who had to leave the company for some reason found another job or opened their own business rather quickly.
Everyone today has a choice: to join either the “victims” or the “survivors”. I am sure that the majority of you will want to join the latter. Moreover, cooperation, trust, and creativity have always been part of the university's core values. If we continue to preserve them, we will overcome all difficulties together. Keep calm and stay healthy — physically, intellectually, and emotionally. We'll be in touch!
Sincerely yours,
Eduard Galazhinskiy
Translated by Snezhana Nosova