On the eve of the first day of classes, a colorful tradition ushers in the new academic year and officially inducts the incoming class to the UVM community. On Aug. 30 in Patrick Gymnasium, students gathered to hear their Student Government Association president, their university president and their provost offer words of welcome, advice and inspiration.
“One of the special things about UVM,” Jason Maulucci, SGA president, assured the first-years, are the “countless professors and administrators and staff members who are here for you and want to do what they can to make your journey here as good as it can be. So use them, ask them questions, ask for help, because they are more than willing to give it.”
President Sullivan asked students to consider how they will spend the next four years at UVM. “We encourage you to embrace this campus and everything it has to offer,” he said, “to fully engage and to contribute to the great strengths that you already find in this university.” He counseled students to expand their horizons by studying abroad and exploring unfamiliar disciplines, to participate in research and service learning, to work closely with a faculty who will “dazzle you with their knowledge,” and to leave their comfort zones by getting involved in their choice of 180 campus clubs and public service opportunities.
“You won’t be disappointed if you engage fully in the intellectual and the cultrual and the social life of UVM. Tonight, you can start to chart your own personal and career destiny," he said. "It starts tonight.”
Provost Rosowsky reminded students that they’re entering college at a time when the world is facing complex problems and is in need of creative and culturally competent solutions.
“Now, ask yourself,” he said to students. “‘What will my role be in creating that future?’ – one of energy security, one with clean and plentiful water, one without malnutrition, one of global peace and mutual understanding, one in equilibrium with our planet and its resources, and one with fewer diseases and less suffering. It’s a tall order, I’ll admit. But so was the charge to place a person on the moon, or to put a computer on your wrist, or to harness solar energy at scale, or to map the human genome. We’ve done all that. It’s on to the next challenges.” Read the full text of his comments to students.
After convocation, students, clad in colorful t-shirts corresponding to their residence halls, marched to the beat of Taiko drummers to the University Green. There, with candles lit, first-years read and signed a pledge, committing to maintain a supportive environment for all people at the university and to confront situations of injustice and prejudice.
Scroll through photos from the celebration:
