Convocations

Today Roberts Wesleyan College and Charles Finney High School both had a Convocation. A calling together of all those involved to begin the new school year with focus, purpose, unity. All faculty at RWC were robed and hooded and marched to trumpets and organs with flags flying and mortarboard tassels swinging. We processed from the back of Hale Auditorium in the Cultural Life Center to the platform where we were seated during President Martin's and Provost Zwier's addresses, and watched in admiration as faculty were recognized for their years of service - from 5 years all the way to 35 years!

It was inspiring to hear the expectations of the administration as they outlined our progress, laid out a high standard of expectation, recognized jobs well done, and encouraged the students to embrace their time here, wringing out as much meat and juice as they can rather than sleeping and sliding through, just to get to the other side.

I don't often march in convocations. We were invited to participate in such events at Illinois, appropriately garbed, but it was such a large institution, and no one else from the libraries participated or asked me to join in, so I never did. At Eastman, Convocation was much simpler. Faculty attended as they were able, but didn't robe. Speakers were the main part of the ceremony, and I usually attended because the speakers were notable and interesting, or their topics provocative.

I have to say I felt proud to wear the Illinois colors on my hood, and represent the library discipline. These time honored traditions aren't well understood by students, and most of them don't attend - they find it boring and a waste of their time. They will, I suspect, come to appreciate it as I have. You need to mark beginnings with some pomp and tradition. You need to set aside time to look at what you are doing and why. And you need to make it memorable.

Who can forget all those robed professors proudly upholding the institution, showing what it took for them to get there, their efforts, studies, qualifications. What other part of society does this? Certainly not retail, not manufacturing, not health care, not self employed business, nor law nor tech stuff.

I'm glad to know the school where Drew is going also takes time to say what they are about, to recognize their teachers, to reinforce the positives, to dedicate their time, energy, effort to the development of young men and women who will lead our society. I for one want to know that the upcoming generations have some sort of grounding, at least some foundation for societal impact for the better if not spiritual growth.

At the other end of the school year, we will robe again, and recognize the students who have accomplished their goal of completing an RWC education. It will be interesting to see how that relates to today.