THURSDAY,"JUNE 26, 1969 F , Walker: 'Confident Humility Leads to True Wisdom' "Welcome—all of you—to University Park. "Some of you are jtist beginning yo'ur college careers. Some of you have transferred from Commonwealth Cam puses. And some of you have already had a year or two of college experience at another institution and are now Penn State students for the first time. But all of you are new to the University' Park Campus and all of you will find life here somewhat different from what you may have been accus tomed to in the past. "You are beginning - a new journey in higher education, and if it seems a bit overwhelming to you at the moment, just remember that the longest journey begins with a single step. And you have made that step here this week at one of the finest institutions in the Nation. I hope it is a path that you will follow all of your life—for you will find that education is indeed a life-long process. "Whenever I stand in front of a group of newly arrived students such. as you, I feel that I ought to have some words of wisdom which by their very vitality and forcefulness would set each of you on the road to success at University '.Park. I have the feeling that somehow, or other I ought to be able to conjure up a few well chosen words that—if they don't actually inspire you—could at least serve as realistic reminders of some of the pitfalls that - probably lie ahead of you. For I'm afraid that as the next few years pass, one thing is certain: a number of you will encounter difficult problems of one kind or another. And when.this happens,.l will ask myself Whether there wasn't something I might have done to prevent it—some words of advice that I might have given you that would have pre vented you from making the wrong de cision that caused the trouble. "Actually, I don't really believe there are such words. I'm afraid that the de cisions you make in the next few years, the activities you engage in, and the general course of your conduct, must, in the nature of things, be pretty much your own affair. How you conduct your personal life as a Penn State student, and what you accomplis,h in the years ahead of you, is pretty largely your own responsibility. - "I suppose that if I asked you why you are here, most of you would say that "And because you are the members you are here to learn a profession and of a select and privileged group you prepare yourself for a job. Few of you must accept these wider responsibilities. would claim otherwise, and I'm sure that You must use your advantages not only most of your predecessors here at to satisfy your own personal goals, but to University Park had the same general help satisfy the general , goals of objective . Now there is nothing wrong humanitY, with such a goal. Purposeful dedication to "I think that if I had to single out one getting an education that will prepare characteristic which most clearly dis you to make an effective contribution in tinguishes the world in which we live JAWBONE Coffee House offers you ... conversation, relaxation, good, cheap food; Coffees, teas, live and recorded entertainment Two blocks south of the traffic light, and turn left. 415 L Foster Saturday, 8.12 p.m. Special Sale! Even further reductions on • ,k ; • • inventory of quality hair pieces! Wiglets $7.50 Cascades $13:50 Falls...better than 50% savings_ - . Long ...,_. 455. Medium fa 11,.. $45. Oriental fall .. $35. Be sure to see our stock of , Dynel Stretch Wigs in 50 colors • l l tir. Jan HAIRSTYLIST 116 Heister Street 238.3101 President Eric A. Walker your special field of interest is a worthy and admirable aim "Undoubtedly, today's world needs people who are fully trained and well educated in technical, scientific, and other specialties. "But perhaps an even greater need is for• peOple with broad humane interests. People who can recognize 'the inter actions and inter-relationships of human affairs. And who have the capacity and the initiative to use this knowledge for the common good—people, in short, whose knowledge has, given them un derstanding, and whose understanding manifests itself in active recognition of the rights and needs of their fellow man. "Today most educated men have no - .difficulty getting a job. There are enough jobs to occupy the talents of almost anyone who has any specialized training at all. But the world you are entering is a world in which the challenges are broader and much more demanding than those involved in merely finding an ap propriate niche and settling down to a comfortable and prosperous working life. "And because of this, your education, your preparation to take your place in • this challenging world, lias itself become much more demanding than the kind of education which served well enough a ge neration ago. Our objective is no longer merely to train you - as competent pro fessional workers but to educate you to become responsible citizens-of a complex world. "For learning a profession is really only part of your job here. Your real pro fession is not only that by which you will eventually earn you living—your true vocation should be, above all, that of citizen. "I'm sure you will find, both now and in the world ahead, that the quality of your citizenship will far exceed in im portance the manner in which you seek to earn you daily bread. "And because of this, we feel that we have a right to expect more of you. And we expect more of you because you are a more select group than your predecessors of a' decade or two ago. On the whole, you were probably better trained in high school. And there is every indication that in your approach to learning, most of you are more serious and more eager ,than they elcomed iß.it., Convocation —Collegian Photo by Roger Greenawalt tilll 1 711,6 Cor • Annual Summer Closing • . . •• • • . . . . • Great savings for you on seasonable summer • merchandise! We have made large reductions from our regular stock, so that Y 0 U, Penn State customer,. can buy & SAVE on: • Dresses • Blouses • Bathing Suits • Raincoats • Knit Tops • Handbags • Pants • Skirts • Scarves THE DAILY COLLEGIAN, UNIVERSITY PARK, PENNSYLVANIA University President Eric A. Walker and Undergraduate Student Government President Ted Thompson were on hand to welcome 1220 'new freshmen and transfer students to the University Sunday night in Schwab Auditorium. Before the welcoming speeches by Walker and Thompson, the new students were-treated to a slide showing titled "For the Glory" which pidtures many of the traditions that make up Penn State. Following Walker's and Thompson's speeches, James Perine, Instructor of Community Services in the College of Human Development and Director of the Upward Bound Program spoke to the stu dents and explained the purposes, pro blems and functions of the Upward Bound Program which will be taking place at the University this summer. After the welcoming speeches, the new students were invited to a faculty reception in the HUB Ballroom where they could talk with members of the facul ty from all the colleges. Following are the complete texts of Walker's and Thompson's speeches: today from the world into which I graduated, it would be this emphasis upon human relationships, this growing concern with the , rights and needs and responsibilities of ordinary human beings in their daily affairs. "As Penn State students, you have come to the University t o prepare yourselves for such leadership in this modern world. Ail of you, as I said, are probably better trained and educated than were students just a decade ago. Most of you have already acquired some understanding of the problems and dif ficulties and inequities of modern society. Many of you have begun to form opinions about how these problems might be solved, and some of you are eager to do something about it right now—to put your thoughts and beliefs into concrete action. Certainly another of the significant characteristicsof your generation is your eagerness to act, your desire to attack the problems that your elders have failed to solve, and you are to be commended for this kind of interest and enthusiasm. "But in your eagerness to act, do not forget that your knowledge of the world, and indeed any man's knowledge, is rather, incomplete and limited: That. af ter all, is why a university exists and why you are here. In becoming a university student you have signified your willingness to lea r n, to inquire, to assimilate new ideas, to broaden your un derstanding. And paradoxically enough, the more you learn the more you are cer tain to realize how much the wisdom you seek depends upon a recognition that _there is very rarely_ a simple pat answer to any serious problem, that there are always several sides to any question, and that the proper solution is seldom as ob vious as it seems. "Do not forget that it has taken mankind some ten thousand years to get where he is. Our world isn't perfect by any means; we still have a long way to go to perfect our society. But over the centuries, man has succeeded in solving his problems one by one, in devising systems that slowly but surely have made the lot of each generation a little better than that of the previous one. "And that, let me repeat, is why you are here—to learn, to inquire, to develop your own understanding of the way the world grows, and to grow in worldly wisdom so that you may take your place of leadership in a world that needs your help in finding solutions to man's pro blems. "But while you are here, remember that the true worth of the eventual leadership depends not only upon eagerness and enthusiasm, not merely upon willingness to accept responsibility, or even upon courage to act, but more DRESSES Reg„ $35 00 NOW $26.99 Reg. s2s°° NOW $17.99 YOU SAVE MORE OPEN TONIGHT 'TIL 9 124 S. Allen St. & 230 E. College Ave. than anything else upon a depth of wisdom and a breadth of understanding that comes from knowledge gained through humility. The wisest and most respected philosopher of all times, Socrates. once said, "There is only one thing I know, and that is that I know nothing." It is this kind of confident humility that leads to true wisdom and understanding. "You will have to work hard while you are here. In fact, you will probably have to work harder than you ever worked before. You will find that you will often have to work on weekends, not only to prepare for the coming week, but to catch up on work from the previous one. You will discover that at University Park there is no such thing as a forty-hour week. You will soon realize that your pro fessors expect you to exert yourself to the limits of your capacity. "And if you approach your work with an open mind and a willingness to learn. find all of us willing and eager to help you. And you will probably find these will be among the most exciting and en joyable years of your life. "Good luck to all of you." * * * 'Thompson's Speech "As the President of the Un dergraduate Student Government I would like to welcome you, the class of 1973, to good old PSU—this will be your home for the next four years and I hope you will get the best you can from Happy Valley. Many people will take the opportunity to welcome you here and wish you luck, I would like to add my name to that list. "Reports from around the state and the country say your class, the graduates of 1969, is the most knowledgeable and alert class to come on the academic scene. This may have been true in high school; 'some of you may have been instrumental in class boycotts, or of a takedver, or some other form of protese . - however, you are now college students - not high school pupils; there is a distinct difference; I hope you will realize this before too long. "Accepting this and other reports about your class, I would like to bring certain observations and suggestions to your attention. "From my vantage point in student government, I have seen an over emphasis by students in non-academic areas. One of your most pressing challenges is that of academic reform. There are many ways this can be ap proached; one approach is through the structure - U.S.G. We are working on many prOgrams which will effect academic reform, but we need your Thompson:'Speak Out Where You Can Be Heard minds. your fresh expanding minds. A more unstructured approach is one that is initiated by you. You will have to challenge the professors- this can be done by first not accepting the impersonality and coolness of a large classroom: talk to the professors after class or during their office hours. "Tell him you don't understand or you can't accept a specific point without further background. This will give you a better insight to the subject and also it will alert the professor to the fact that he's not reaching everyone - thus making him change his teaching style. Along with this, don't hesitate to ask questions in class - chances are half the class was thinking of the same question. Don't he afraid to question. because we are all here to learn and questioning is one way to obtain knowledge. "Academics should be your first con cern while you are here, but %%hat about your hfe as a student out of class? That can never be answered completely - it's really up to you, in that area. You can become one of two types of students - apathetic or active. The anathetic pupil barely has enough interest in his aca demics to be concerned with anything else. To those pupils, I wish them the best of luck during their vist here. "Turning my' attention to the college students, the active ones, the class of '73, you are the New Breed. Classes before you have been preparing the Ad ministration, faculty, and the world for your arrival. I envy you. You call the shots as you see them; you're honest, and you're sincere. Never let anyone talk that away' from you. You will be told that you are transient, that the University must and will go on! ! True - but that's not the whole story. You are like food to the University b.dy; the University could do without you and exist, just as the body can do without food and exist - but it will soon perish and rot away. We fulfill one of the necessities of life for the University - self-preservation; but the University. just as the body, has other functions besides self-preservation and these must go on. "You will find much here to be dissatisfied with and to protest about. be cause PSU can and will be anything you make it. There are many groups ready to voice your discontent - The Black Student Union, White Liberation Front, Students for a Democratic Society, Youn Americans for Freedom, and many others., but all of these are outside the recognized structure and are therefor e not as effective as their desires want them to be. Student Governments across the country have ; been termed ineffectiire themselves and not willing to voice a METZGE , 434 E. COLLEGE AVE. Sword & Shield Bottle Shop Complete Line Student Supplies and Sporting Goods USG President Ted Thompson MOVED TO Next To —Collegian Photo by Roger Greenvialt minority opinion if that opinion is right. Since I have assumed the Presidency 1 have been trying to reach as many dif ferent groups as I can - sometimes for Advice. opinion, or to see what direction they are going where I might be. able to assist. but I need your help and your energy to continue this task. "To those of you who have demonstration and protest in your blood - continue to demonstrate and protest, but, only if it's peaceful, lawful, and viith valid cause. 1 is ill defend with all the authority and power of my office your right to protest - and I won't allow any group, be they Administrators or off campus authorities to interfere itith your rights. However, this is what I expect from you - no taking over or occupying buildings illegally, no deprivation of anyone's rights, no interference with the educational process, and most of all no student to student confrontation. Again, I cannot accept any deviation from these guidelines. "But, neither will I accept any ad ministrat we silence or procrastination when silence and proeastrinat ion will prove to b.- detrimental to the University. As ol late, dillerent Administrator appear to be reluctant or afraid to speak out. These are men and women who have been delegated with the responsibility of running.the University and if they cannot see it fit to answer questions or state their positional policies and statements - then I say to them "mote on. we don't xt ant you, your presence and talents are no longer required. "If the excuse of only willing to talk with a representative of the student body is used - then I It ill he at the spear Ma t. of even• movement to get results and answers. If the fear of the Harrisburg legislature is a point of concern - then say to hell with them: they won't shut down this University f inancially: however, if they are going to use the pursestrings to keep this University tin der their thumb and use it to suppress free expression by students, faculty. and administrators - then I say raise the tuition because I will speak out and so should you. "I want you to speak out where you can be heard and where you can be most effective: for undergraduates at 'Uni versity Park the answer to that is U.S.G. The Administration. the Faculty Senate, and the Board of Trustees can't ignore our voice, and they must answer us. "You are now a part of a community of minds; you can raise or lower yourself by what you say. think. and do. Use your minds and your hearts constructively. and the future is yours for the asking. "Thank you and good luck." PAGE THREE
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