Roanoke Times
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: TUESDAY, May 11, 1993 TAG: 9305110516
SECTION: EDITORIAL PAGE: A-5 EDITION: METRO
SOURCE: THOMAS R. MORRIS
DATELINE: EMORY LENGTH: Medium
Furthermore, for nearly half this century, May Day was a time for military review in Moscow's Red Square. Amazingly, that has changed just since the Class of '93 matriculated at Emory & Henry College.
Let us on this May Day express joy and gratitude for the undying promise of renewal that comes with spring.
Through the decades, the Emory & Henry story has been one of adapting to change and weathering the storm of external pressures. The story is one of survival during tough economic times . . . times which saw the college serve as a Confederate hospital during the Civl War, times which endured the Great Depression, times when three dorms were renamed for aircraft carriers as they served host to the Navy V-12 program of World War II.
The Emory & Henry story is one of service to this Appalachian region. It is the story of the thousands of men and women who call it their college and who make contributions of lasting significance to this region and country. The Emory & Henry story is one of ever-increasing academic excellence.
The capacity of self-evaluation and change is one of the features that distinguishes a first-rate institution from a mediocre one. Historically, Emory & Henry has had that capacity. Change, more often than not at this institution, has been converted into new opportunities and hopes.
Change has always been part of the human condition. I would not be surprised if sometime shortly after the angel with the flaming sword arrived at the Garden of Eden, Adam did not turn to Eve and say, "I believe we are going through a period of change."
The issue today is how to adjust to the fast pace of change. We are living in the midst of the national and international reinvention of government, education and business. Only those organizations that undergo rigorous self-examination and continuous self-evaluation will flourish and fulfill their missions. Together we must ensure our capacity for self-criticism with built-in, organizational ability to respond to and bring about change.
Another feature that distinguishes a first-rate college is the fundamental idea around which it is organized. Emory & Henry has long been comitted to an educational ideal that addresses the whole person - mind, body and spirit. Our liberal arts and curriculum grows out of this fundamental commitment, and it remains sound.
No doubt, we will be in ongoing dialogue about creative ways to link the classrooms with life outside the classroom. We will also be in ongoing dialogue about the importance of the sciences and the arts, both visual and performing. The sciences and the arts share a common emphasis on precision and modeling, and are critical cornerstones of a liberal arts education.
We must also grapple with the idea of the computer as a communication device. We must find ways to take greater advantage of the new technology that provides us the possibility of access to each other and to informational resources in a fashion that is unparalleled in history.
Let us also celebrate the geographical location of this beautiful campus. Some call us off the beaten path and that, in my humble opinion, can be a great blessing that allows study and reflection without the frenetic interruption of diversions.
Yet we bear a special responsibility.
We must respond to our geographical isolation by intentionally seeking ways to reflect pluralism on our campus. By pluralism, I mean a richness of people coming together from a variety of backgrounds, men and women who bring rich differences in experiences, differences in philosophy, and differences in what they seek to do with their college degrees. We live in an increasingly diverse society, and we must not assume that we are isolated from the realities of a globally oriented world.
Thomas R. Morris is the new president of Emory & Henry College. This is excerpted from his May 1 inaugural address.
by CNB