**Photo by Isa Montes.** Swig Hall, the tallest building in Santa Clara University, towers over campus.

In times of great uncertainty, I am reminded of a conversation I had with Rob Scholla, S.J., where he shared that the original mission of the Jesuits was to accompany people along their pilgrimages. Over time, while the pilgrimages we take may have changed, the responsibility to care for one another along the way has remained true. So while this election was not a physical journey, it has nevertheless marked a transformation within our country.

Wherever we find ourselves now, we must always recognize and affirm the dignity of the human person. The tensions and fervor of an election do not disappear after our votes have been cast: the recent harassment of students shows such tensions are present on our own campus.

Our student body holds a multitude of lived experiences, and as we navigate the intersections of our respective experiences and histories, we must commit to walk alongside one another with a tender compassion on the journey ahead. Let us, like the Jesuits, care for one another. Let us love one another in ways that are not exclusionary, but revolutionary.

For what is revolutionary love but to care for one another in a way where our empathy can be just as strong as our convictions?

This is the reality of progress: It is not one leap but rather many steps. While some may hope that we will take leaps in our lifetimes, I bear the bittersweet news that we may be lucky to even take a stride. This can make it seem slow, sometimes painful, and at times not very revolutionary. But, every step taken is, ultimately, a step forward.

So, as we continue to take such steps in the days ahead, let us wrap our differences in revolutionary love. Because in moments like this, caring for people individually and directly does more than national policy ever could.

May our love for one another—and for Santa Clara University—be revolutionary.