Awards Ceremony

Sponsored by Student Support Services and the Ethnic Student Center
Viking Union Lounge
May 25, 2000

Address of President Karen W. Morse

The end of the academic year is a special time. There are few things I enjoy more as president than to recognize graduates and students who have contributed to Western as leaders, mentors, and scholars. You have been on this campus -- yours and mine -- for several years now. We have new students of color coming next fall to take the place of our graduates. In fact, this fall, in contrast to incorrect information recently released, we will likely have the largest class of students with multicultural backgrounds that we have ever had. Although Western received slightly fewer applications from prospective students of color and made slightly fewer offers of admission for fall compared with fall 1999, Karen Copetas tells me that the response to our offers has been overwhelming. Four hundred and three new freshmen of color have confirmed their intent to enroll in fall 2000. (Last year 329 actually enrolled.) I attribute this in no small measure to your efforts that improve the climate on campus for diversity.

As I review your accomplishments, I am very impressed. Your lists of academic achievements and service to the university community are formidable – a grand start to what I trust will be a life of contributions to people and causes that are important to you.

You give me great hope for our future. You have learned much here at Western. You’re prepared to make a living. You're also prepared to make a life. And it has put you ahead of the crowd as a leader. And what difference will this make to you? I came across a poem recently that struck a chord for me about how important your contributions and accomplishments are for the university and -- I really mean this -- for society.

The poem is Capitalist Poem #5, by Campbell McGrath (From The Poetry of Work for a Living, Nicholas Coles and Peter Oresick, editors, University of Illinois Press, 1995)

I was at the 7-11.
I ate a burrito.
I drank a Slurpee.
I was tired.
It was late, after work washing dishes.
The burrito was good.
I had another.

I did it every day for a week.
I did it every day for a month.

To cook a burrito you tear off the plastic wrapper.
You push button #3 on the microwave.
Burritos are large, small, or medium.
Red or green chili peppers.
Beef or bean or both.
There are 7-11’s all across the nation.

On the way out I bought a quart of beer for $1.39.
I was aware of social injustice
In only the vaguest possible way.

Too many people are unaware of issues. Much of life is mundane –for too many people it's burritos and slurpees with little thought to others in our society. But your lives have meaning already -- something that we all should strive for, but many never do.

Some of you are graduating, some will return. A few words for those of you who are taking that big step to a wider world:

Work hard and be optimistic. Helen Keller said, “Optimism is the faith that leads to achievement. Nothing can be done without hope and confidence." (Source: The Book of Positive Quotations by John Cook) You have demonstrated your optimism by attending Western and making the very best use of your time here. We have benefited from your presence and are encouraged by your endeavors.

Always remain open to change. Education is not about learning about facts – but about learning the questions to ask to discover new things –and using the facts you know to solve problems. You need to make good decisions. It’s not just what you know, but how willing you are to learn from people with differing views and perspectives, and how you use that knowledge.

Accept the challenge to change things and persevere when change isn’t easy. There are important things that we all must work to change – chief among them incivility among neighbors and communities and countries, substance abuse, violence of all types. There are no quick solutions. But only through your efforts -- yours and mine -- will we make a difference.

Finally, the fact that you are here today indicates demonstrable self-respect and appreciation for the role of the individual in the quality of society. You clearly deserve to be proud. Pat yourselves on the back! You have my respect and admiration as well for making much of yourselves academically and as citizens of Western Washington University.

Thanks and Congratulations.