Roanoke Times
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: FRIDAY, June 4, 1993 TAG: 9306040142
SECTION: VIRGINIA PAGE: B3 EDITION: NEW RIVER VALLEY
SOURCE: LARRY W. BROWN STAFF WRITER
DATELINE: LEXINGTON LENGTH: Medium
"This school has definitely changed my outlook on the world. I don't think you can go to a university and not come out a changed person," Spinosa said.
If that's truly the case, then, according to Wilson, the faculty of the school has done its job.
"Part of our task has been to enlarge the cultural envelope and to consider alternate ways to look upon the world," Wilson said.
Wilson also urged the graduating seniors to remember the importance of social institutions, such as the family.
"Your first obligation is to form a healthy family unit of your own . . . to preserve our culture and teach our common heritage," he said.
Scheduled to receive bachelor's degrees from the College of Arts and Sciences or the School of Commerce, Economics and Politics were 385 seniors.
Wilson added that "we have unlimited faith in you to restore sanity to the world."
According to Vivian Lee, whose daughter Erika graduated, the president's remarks could not come at a better time.
"He touched on every aspect of society and encouraged the students not to just get a degree but to remember the humanitarian aspect which is so important to the world today," she said.
This year's valedictorian, Mary Jo Beyer, credited the closeness of the graduating class to the school's size.
"The professors here are more than teachers who stand in front of the class. . . . I've built friendships as well as academic relationships," Geyer said.
"This is a memorable class and some of us are having trouble saying goodbye to them," said Jack Wielgus, a biology professor.
Joshua MacFarland, the graduating student body president, spoke to his classmates about the changes on campus since their freshman year.
"While there have been many physical changes across the campus this year, one thing never changed - the spiritual institution," he said.
Washington and Lee's graduates hail from 33 states, Hong Kong, Japan, Canada and the U.S. Virgin Islands. But Geyer said the diversity of the Class of 1993 doesn't come from just the students' hometowns.
"It's by the things we pursue, whether it be literature or sports. We're a very diverse class, but we have a common unity," Geyer said.
NOTE: shorter version ran in the Metro edition.
Memo: ***CORRECTION***