Ah, reassuring prose.

Like this gem, from a message sent to all of us today from the University president. It's vague and reassuring, quite a pretty piece of writing.

"During the period of orientation for new students and the beginning of undergraduate classes, I had the opportunity to witness in an unexpectedly personal way the human dimensions of Emory."

What does it mean that the author witnessed the human dimensions of Emory in an "unexpectedly personal way?" What is a "human dimension?" Are there impersonal human dimensions? Did he take the opportunity of witnessing these human dimensions? And, if you did witness it, how passive is that?

Look at how much I can cut this down.

"During orientation and the start of classes, I met (was privileged to meet) the marvelous staff, students, and parents of Emory."

17 words, versus 30. A 43% reduction in mass. Look what happens when you cut down those prepositions. It's more direct, more cordial, and actually means something. Of course he writes in the softer style because it can sound pleasant without offending. His job is to reassure the reader. But I'd prefer a more friendly, direct style than that for my reassurance. There is sin in being too styled.