Roanoke Times
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: SUNDAY, May 8, 1994 TAG: 9405080075
SECTION: VIRGINIA PAGE: E1 EDITION: METRO
SOURCE: ALLISON BLAKE STAFF WRITER
DATELINE: LENGTH: Medium
As rain drummed on Moffett Lawn, where graduation planners had gambled that iffy weather would hold, a sweeping message of global responsibility was issued by one of the world's great peacemakers: Oscar Arias, former president of Costa Rica and Nobel Peace Prize winner.
"The global influence and power of the United States holds for you, and for us, the citizens of other nations, as much value as it does danger," said Arias.
"Value because history has placed the power and influence in the hands of a nation whose fundamental institutions are based on the principles of liberty, justice and democracy.
"Danger because the complexity acquired by these institutions can generate indifference and the consequential loss of democratic control over government decisions."
A veritable sea of umbrellas popped up over the assembled 11,000, who came to watch an estimated 2,500 graduates receive diplomas.
Flags of many nations, including the 21 representing the university's international graduate contingent, ringed the tented podium.
Arias spoke at length, drawing the line from international problems to the front doorstep of the United States.
"In this age of advanced communications and global access, what was once considered regional strife now carries international ramifications. Any calamities which befall one nation or society consequently affect us all," he said.
For instance, city bankers in an industrialized country could decide to force a Third World country to repay its debt.
"This decision, in turn, could drive thousands of workers in that country to emigrate to a developed nation," he said.
For evidence, look only as far as the boatloads of Haitian refugees desperately trying to flee to the U.S.
"The great problem of our time is not only the existence of tremendous disparities between rich and poor countries, but also the daily rise in the disparities between rich and poor people.
"We must make extraordinary efforts to secure viable paths to prosperity for all individuals and for all nations," he said.
Arias advocated the establishment of policies to stabilize the world economy.
"Industrialized countries and their people must understand that their own security depends on winning the war against poverty throughout the world."
Radford's New College for Global Studies, which breaks ground for its first multimillion-dollar building this fall, hopes to prepare its undergraduates so they understand just such a world.
But it has been fast-changing, as Arias pointed out. He compared this year's graduates to the Soviet cosmonaut who spent 10 months in space, only to find his country had disintegrated while he was gone.
"Today, as you emerge from this cradle of knowledge, you will enter a world very different from the one you left the day you came to college."
University spokeswoman Debbie Brown said most graduates probably will have their diplomas mailed to them, because the individual college ceremonies following the university ceremony - where diplomas are usually issued - were canceled due to the weather.
Which, by the way, abated about 10 minutes after the commencement ended.
by CNB