A useful life
John Blair Smith, Union’s first president, issued a charge to students under his care two centuries ago: “As you leave this place, do so ready to live a useful life.” I ended this year’s Commencement ceremony in June with President Smith’s charge because it links today’s graduates with our long and storied past and because his words are as meaningful today as they were then.
It has been my good fortune to have met many sons and daughters of Union College over the course of the past year. I’ve been struck and moved by the multiple ways in which graduates of the College honor Smith’s charge and indeed live useful lives. They have reminded me that there is no one path to a useful life. In fact, they remind me that we live multi-faceted lives – public and private – and we are challenged to find ways of making our lives useful across all facets and across all phases of our lives. John Blair Smith’s charge has a timeless quality about it: It extends to each generation of Union students and it extends well beyond Commencement to the whole of our lives. Smith asks us to strive to make a difference. It is the mark of Union graduates that they hold this expectation for themselves and for their lives.
Every issue of this magazine provides stories of useful lives, stories about graduates who have made a difference. This one is no exception. Take the “Women of ’72,” Union’s first women graduates. They’ve carried Union into the world. Take Phil DiSorbo ’71 as but another example. He has dedicated his life to the hospice movement – a movement that has brought support, care and dignity to thousands. Phil now takes his efforts to Africa where the need is great and the hours are undoubtedly long. President Smith would certainly nod approvingly if we could ask him: is this what you had in mind?
Commencement 2007 was a wonderful occasion. The weather cooperated. The speakers were inspired and inspiring. Richard Sorabji reminded us of the riches that come with the life of the mind. Charlie Gibson talked about the challenges our graduates will face and impressed everyone with the generous gift he made to Union – establishing the Burdett Gibson Scholarship in memory of his father who graduated from Union in 1923. Karyn Amira ’07 captured memories of the preceding four years and asked her classmates to be excellent to one another and do something positive for society and for others.
As I looked out on the faces of the members of the Class of 2007 from the porch of Schaffer Library, I was overwhelmed by a sense of both expectation and hope. Before me were future political leaders, teachers, researchers, doctors, lawyers, managers, executives, non-profit workers, bankers, builders and inventors. Before me were future parents, citizens and volunteers. I was fortunate enough to get to know many members of the Class of 2007 and I am impressed by their curiosity, commitments, passion, and character. They will represent Union College well. They give me confidence in our collective future.