Orientation Welcome, Class of 2013
Remarks by Thomas W. Ross
August 20, 2009
I would like add my very sincere words of welcome to all of you, the Class of 2013, our transfer students, and your parents, families and friends. This is the beginning of a new adventure for all of you.
As you may know, I have been on the job as president of Davidson College for 750 days and almost 20 hours. For those of you not planning to be math majors, that translates to just over two years. So you may be quite fairly asking what in the world am I doing here trying to help provide orientation to you, when I can't possibly know very much myself. Good question! (See, you are already learning the skill of inquiry as a way of gaining knowledge.) Well, the answer is, I have been here two years and you haven't, so that makes me an expert.
Okay: Expert, maybe not really; but surviving my first two years does give me some insight to what is ahead for you. These last two years I have experienced many of the same feelings I did as a Davidson freshman more than a few years ago, and many of the feelings you may have right now. The excitement and anticipation of new opportunities and experiences, the intimidation that comes from being surrounded by people who are mostly smarter than I am, the separation from what I know and what I have been used to, questions about whether I will fit in and whether people will like me, and worry about whether I can do the work and be successful here. These emotions and feelings are complex and intertwined-some good, some bad! I asked myself more than once during my two years as president (and I continue to ask) how am I going to make it here?
The answer is the same as it was when I was here as a student, and the same as it was when my two children, who graduated in 1999 and 2001, were here. I will make it only if I am open to learning, if I work hard, and if I take responsibility for my actions.
One thing that I know for sure is that I have been blessed with the strong and personal support of this special community we call Davidson College. I have re-learned in my time back at Davidson that everyone-faculty, staff and students-wants those around them to succeed and find happiness. Thus, everyone is ready and willing to support and nurture those with whom they share this wonderful place-that includes me, and it includes all of you. And I mean all of you-students and parents.
This is not to say that it won't be difficult at times for each of us. I know I still feel out of place sometimes; I bet you students will, as well. I wonder about my ability and whether I should really be here; you will also. I doubt myself and need those around me to be patient as I learn. I am betting it will be the same for you. But we can find our place and be successful. Of that I am confident.
I do have a few hints about how we can all survive and thrive here at Davidson, although I share them at the risk of violating the old adage of Lord Chesterfield, who said, "Advice is seldom welcome, and those who need it most like it least."
So, here is my advice. First, this will be a new experience. There is the separation. There is the loneliness. There is the need, perhaps for the first time, to make decisions entirely on your own. There is the ability to go where you want and do what you want. You finally have your own space. Yes, it is a whole new world-and that is just for you parents.
I am only partially kidding. This is a hard time for parents, and you new students need to recognize it. Your parents have watched over you from birth and cared for you. They have watched you grow and become successful. They are proud of you and what you have accomplished. They are beaming because you are here and are about to enter Davidson College. It is going to be hard for them to let go and allow you to continue your growth without them. So, do me a favor. Help them out. Tell them you miss them, even if you don't really. Continue to ask for their advice ever so often, even when you don't have to. Who knows? It might help you just as much as their past advice has helped you.
Allow me to share a personal story. When my son was a first-year student at Davidson, he decided he wanted to go to the New Orleans Jazz Festival. It turns out that the Jazz Festival was being held the weekend before final exams in the spring semester. So he called and said, "Dad, can I go to Jazz Fest in New Orleans?" Of course, he did not disclose the timing of the event as it related to exams. But appropriate probing by the dad (that would be me, and I did not go to law school for nothing) produced a more complete set of facts. Once I had the facts I thought, "How am I going to handle this? If I say no, which I should, he might go anyway. If I say yes, I am encouraging conduct that may not be in his best interest." So, I said to him, "Son, do you realize you could have gone to Jazz Fest, had a great time and returned to Davidson without asking me and I would have never known you went?" He then realized I was right and feared he had really messed up by calling me. But in a rare moment of rationality, I said to him, "This is a decision you will need to make. If you think you can handle it and not damage your grades, go for it, but if it is going to affect your academic performance, you may want to think hard about what is best for you in the long haul." Of course, he went to Jazz Fest, but he worked it out to ride with some other students so they could all study on the way down to New Orleans (or at least that is the story he came up with) and he came back early to be sure he was ready for exams. So it all worked out. I, of course, was thrilled he called me, even though I knew he could have gone ahead without my input. My point is simply this to you students: Just because you have freedom doesn't mean you suddenly stop benefiting from the wonderful guidance and advice that helped you get here tonight. Continued communications with your parents is okay, even when you are on your own.
Correspondingly, to the parents I must say, at the risk of upsetting and maybe even angering some of you, your young people are at a point in their lives where their continued growth and development depends on your loosening, if not letting go of, the reins. Your sons and daughters need to feel free, so they can learn not only about freedom, but also about responsibility. The two go hand-in-hand-freedom and responsibility-and they cannot be learned and lived in isolation. So, when you leave tomorrow, trust that all of the work you have done, the effort you have expended, the struggles you have endured and the joys you have experienced in raising these students will now pay dividends as they leave the nest to embrace new adventures. They can do it. They would not be at Davidson College if they were not equipped for what is ahead.
I left two young people on the doorstep here as first-year students and picked up two quite different young people after graduation. I did see them some in between. But my point is that I have seen what goes in and what comes out of Davidson College. The transformation can be dramatic, impressive and amazing. You will, I believe, be quite pleased.
Now, I want to come back to our new students and ask you to try and envision with me what is ahead for you. As they say, all the world is your oyster. I never really knew what that meant, particularly to people who don't like seafood, but I think it is supposed to be a good thing. Most immediately, the world before you is Davidson College, which is a place of learning, caring, serving and socializing. Let me address each of these areas with you.
First, you have a world of teaching and learning that is unsurpassed before you. Davidson is filled with outstanding faculty who are here because they are committed first and foremost to teaching. This place is a goldmine of intellectual opportunity, a mother lode for the mind. Take advantage of what is here. Be willing to visit with your professors during office hours and at every other opportunity. They are wonderful people you will enjoy and benefit from knowing, just as they are excellent teachers. Initially, try to worry less about what you will do when you leave here and more about the love of learning while you are here. Study what you love and you will figure out soon enough what you want to do. Allow yourself to be challenged, to grow and to evolve intellectually. Explore subjects you have never encountered before; open new worlds for yourself. The life of the mind is wonderful. Be inspired by it, and live it with vigor.
The intellectual community of Davidson is as good as it gets, but it is not all that is here for you. This is also a place that cares about people and cherishes their differences. The members of this community strive to understand and respect different ideas, different backgrounds and different cultures, races, ethnicities and identities. Be open-minded as you join us. Don't be fooled by appearances, stereotypes or initial impressions. Break out of your molds, allow yourself to see people and try to understand them for who they really are. Respect their views and ideas, discuss with them, debate with them, and, yes, even argue with them. Trust yourself and each other enough to test your own assumptions. But above all, learn from them, care about them and enjoy sharing experiences with them.
What else is Davidson? Davidson is a place where people are committed to serving those in need, whether here in this community or half way around the world. Service is highly valued here, and it is part of what makes Davidson a place that educates leaders who care about the world around them. Be a part of these experiences. If you serve the communities in which you live-the college, the town, the state and the world-you will find that the rewards you receive will far exceed the effort you invest. There are lots of avenues that will be available and open to you to serve. Seize the ones that matter most to you, and dive in to them with passion. Make a difference.
Davidson is also a social place. There is a vibrant social life, and you can have some serious fun here. That is part of your freedom to be enjoyed. Remember, though, what I said a few minutes ago to your parents. You cannot live with freedom without practicing responsibility. They go together. Personal responsibility is something which you will need to accept and practice to be successful not only here, but beyond. You will no longer have your parents looking over your shoulder at every move you make.
Now, this may be a good time to tell you, if you don't already know, that I was a judge for 17 years before I came here. I still know people. So let me just be clear: even though your parents are not here watching your every move, I am. Okay, just kidding. I will not be watching your every move; I will be asleep some of the time. Though I must tell you, I do live right on campus, so even if I am not watching, I might see.
So you need to decide what kind of person you are going to be. When you have the chance to drink underage, as you certainly will, you have to decide what is responsible. When you are in a relationship with another student, you have to decide what is responsible. When you see things happen that put you or another student at risk, you have to decide what is responsible. There are plenty of people here to help you make these decisions, and there are plenty of people here-including me, every member of the faculty, everyone on the staff and your fellow students-who will do everything possible to help you when you need us, even if the need is created by a bad decision you have made. Freedom is wonderful when blended with responsibility.
Let me add here that Davidson's emphasis on personal responsibility extends to your role as a citizen not only of this campus, but of the world. Last year we focused attention upon a college-wide effort to increase awareness and implement significant changes to help Davidson become increasingly red, black and green. We continue these efforts because we literally can't afford not to-and because we are absolutely convinced that it is the right thing to do for our planet. Each of you will play a role in this effort-an effort that relies on making responsible environmental choices each and every day.
Now, as you go about learning, caring, serving and socializing at Davidson, there are a few practical matters I want you to consider.
First, e-mail and the use of the Internet. E-mail and the Internet are critical to a Davidson education today. E-mail is one of the most frequent modes of communication between faculty and students. Use e-mail, but be courteous, respectful, coherent and as short as possible in doing so. Be patient; your answer will likely come quickly, but give it a day or so before you panic. Most faculty members are not awake at 2 a.m., like you may be, and if they are, they probably aren't checking e-mail. Be careful what you say.
Also, be careful about what you post about yourself or others on Facebook, MySpace or YouTube. Show restraint and respect. Remember that e-mails you send and photos, videos or other items you post are probably on the college network forever. Who knows, some day you may want to run for office or get a job. More importantly, like most institutions, we have a strict Internet-use policy, and you can lose your privileges if you misuse the Internet to illegally download music or other material that is inappropriate or illegal. You could also be in violation of our Code of Responsibility and United States law for copyright violation. You don't want that to happen. Trust me. Remember what I said about being a judge in one of my former lives.
Second, at Davidson you will find there are dozens upon dozens of student organizations and activities in which you will have the opportunity to participate. You may also find that the academic work at Davidson is more rigorous than what you are used to. You will also hear students at this place talk about being under a lot of stress. In my experience, one way to avoid feeling stressed is to take it slow in getting involved. Don't join too many organizations or participate in too many activities right away. Pace yourself. Give yourself some time to find your way and understand how to best manage your time. Perhaps begin by identifying only the one or two extracurricular activities about which you have the most passion. Join in those, and delay other opportunities until you have a better feel for what this place is like and what it demands of you.
Third, Campus Security. I hope today you shared with us your cell phone number, if you have one. We have the ability to do what is called a reverse 911, where we can send you a text message and/or phone call immediately if there is an emergency or security issue on campus. Davidson is a very safe place, but one never knows what might happen. We want to be prepared. The ability to notify you by cell phone in the event of a security issue is one more way we can be prepared. Without your current cell phone number, we may not be able to reach you. So if you did not share your cell phone today at registration, please do so. You should get your number to Fountain Walker, our Chief of Police, or someone in his office. Parents, we need your help on this one. It is important.
And fourth, mail. Parents, no matter how much you use e-mail to stay in contact with your student, it is not enough. I don't mean that you need to e-mail them more. No, what you need to do is send them frequent care packages. This isn't to try and keep the post office busy. No, the reason is much more important: Students need sugar. Fill the mail with cookies, cakes and other stuff that is bad for them. Who knows, maybe they will share some of it with others. And students, sharing is a virtue. It starts at the top.
Finally, as you prepare for the great adventure ahead, know that Davidson College is a special place. You know this, or you would not be here tonight. But as someone who has returned years after becoming the proud parent of two Davidson graduates, and even more years after obtaining my own diploma, I can verify-and indeed, guarantee-that the culture and traditions that make Davidson unique remain strong.
At the core of Davidson's traditions and culture is the Honor Code. This is a place where students, faculty, staff and even many members of the community at-large live lives of integrity and honor. It is part of who we are, and it has been this way for as long as people here can remember. In fact, this year we will be engaged in a year-long celebration of the 100th anniversary of the student-run honor system at Davidson. During my 750 days and now just over 20 hours, I have been asked by folks at other institutions how Davidson College has been so successful in infusing a code of honor and responsibility into everyday life. I have answered by telling them that the deeply-rooted culture of integrity at this place has been here for generations and is passed down from one class to the next and from one person to the next. Despite my best efforts to explain to others the Honor Code at Davidson, I have resorted most recently to using the words of Sarah Allen, a 2008 graduate who led the Honor Council her senior year. When the Raleigh News and Observer wrote an article on the seeming ineffectiveness of honor codes at many schools, Sarah told them that "the code at Davidson is a call to live a life of honor. We are called to flex that muscle of honor in everything we do."
Sunday night, all of you new students will have the opportunity to discuss the Honor Code and then, in a public ceremony, to sign a pledge to follow it and thereby, in the words of Sarah Allen, to commit to live a life of honor. I urge you, for your own benefit and for Davidson's, to take this part of the Davidson experience very seriously. If you do, the rest of your experiences not only here but long after you leave will be enhanced, because you will be part of a tradition of integrity, trust and respect honored by everyone who has ever been touched by this place.
Davidson College has produced graduates at the top of virtually any field you can imagine. This is true not because students here learn all there is to know about medicine, banking, politics, law, technology, English, genomics, quantum theory or music. It is because Davidson students learn how to think, how to analyze, how to write, how to speak, how to serve, how to live with integrity and, perhaps most importantly, how to continue to learn after they leave this place. If you, our transfer students and members of the Class of 2013, take full advantage of what Davidson has to offer you-a world-class liberal arts education-your life will be full, meaningful and of real value. It begins now.
It's a great day to be a Wildcat! Good luck, and go for it!
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