On Aug. 22, new NSU students and their families gathered at the Arena at the Don Taft University Center to attend the Undergraduate Convocation Ceremony, hosted by the Farquhar College of Arts and Sciences.
The annual event marks the start of the academic year and features a keynote speaker whose book is read by students in the college’s First-Year Reading Program. This year’s speaker was James McBride, award-winning author and musician and writer of “The Color of Water: A Black Man’s Tribute to His White Mother,” this year’s reading program selection. The convocation speaker is also the first speaker in the college’s Distinguished Speakers Series, which welcomes prominent leaders to campus.
To start the ceremony, Don Rosenblum, dean of the Farquhar College, welcomed students, their family members and faculty.
“The hallmark of a great university is having outstanding students and fantastic faculty working together, and that starts today,” Rosenblum said.
Rosenblum introduced the events speakers: President George Hanbury, Associate Professor Jason Gershman, senior biology major Jessica Millar and Professor Michael Reiter.
Hanbury challenged students to live with integrity and encouraged students to use NSU’s facilities and resources and take advantage of clubs, organizations and activities.
“As you embark on this journey, don’t be afraid to ask — get involved,” Hanbury said. “If you feel that you may be getting overwhelmed with your classes, ask. We have advisers, we have counselors, and we have tutors who are here to assist you.”
Gershman, the 2014 recipient of the college’s Full-time Faculty Excellence in Teaching Award spoke about identity, the college’s theme for the 2014-2015 academic year, which serves as the basis for college events throughout the year. He shared how he found his identity during his college years, telling students that college is the perfect time to discover their passions and embrace their identities.
“I’m confident that you’ll have that ‘aha moment’ at NSU where inspiration strikes you, and you will refine or redefine your identity,” Gershman said.
Millar gave students advice based on the past three years she has spent at NSU. She encouraged students to not be afraid of challenges or failure, pursue internships and research experiences and take time to explore new things and discover their passion.
“Do not stop exploring until you find that one thing that makes you feel like you could never be happy doing anything else,” Millar said.
In his address to students, McBride talked about his own search for identity as a black man with a white, Jewish mother, which he wrote about in his book “The Color of Water.”
“I would get off the bus and see all these black women waiting for their kids and then see this white woman in the middle of them. I’d say, ‘Oh boy, there she is.’ As a boy I was so ashamed of my mother. I wanted her to be like everybody else.”
Cracking jokes, he told more stories about growing up and going to college and told students now was the their time to learn to think and find out what it is they liked to do.
“If you like comic books, study anthropology and create new characters based on something you learn,” McBride said. “If you like sports, learn [mass and statistic]. Study the things that help you do what you like to do.”
Finally, McBride encouraged students to be kind to others and stressed the importance of not only saying positive things but doing them as well.
“Leave the viciousness to the vicious and be a drum major for truth and kindness and justice. You will never go wrong,” said McBride. “People will always remember you.”
