President Roger Hull welcomed first-year students to “a community that builds character” in his address at the opening convocation on Tuesday.
“An education at Union is a social activity, a community activity,” he said. “A college is a place where people can communicate with each other through ideas, through facts and through emotional experiences.”
Hull spoke of 19th-century French philosopher Alexis de Toqueville. “For Toqueville, the true genius of American democracy was revealed in the way Americans founded voluntary associations that harnessed American individualism for service to society,” Hull said.
But those associations – including colleges – have lost some of their ability to rein in individualistic impulse, Hull noted. “Americans too often are a collection of narrow special interests with little tolerance for compromise and less allegiance to anything approaching a concern for the common good.”
Hull also spoke of the challenge of substantially changing the social, residential and academic character of the College, adding, “I trust that … the rule of civility will prevail and the level of our discourse will be raised while the volume of our voices will not be.”
Hull concluded, “We must continue our journey toward true community while celebrating the autonomy and individuality of each member of the student body, faculty and staff.”
Also at convocation, Peter D. Heinegg, professor of English, received the Stillman Prize for excellence in teaching. Dean of Faculty Christina Sorum, quoted student nominations, one of which read, “Professor Heinegg's classroom is one of intellectual engagement and excitement. It's like getting a drink from a fire hose.”
Pratikshya Bohra '03 received the Phi Beta Kappa prize for excellence among first-year students in General Education. Christopher D. Roblee '02 was honorable mention.