Remarks—Opening Convocation, August 28, 2003
Daniel F. Sullivan

A warm welcome to you all. Today at this opening convocation we celebrate achievements of students, faculty, and administrative staff, and gather to hear words of inspiration and wisdom from a very special faculty member, selected by faculty and administrative colleagues to give the third “First Lecture”—a new tradition begun two years ago.

In a university, summer is for some a time for renewal. For others it is a time of focused research and writing, pushing the boundary of one’s understanding outward—a time of creativity and progress in preparation for sharing what one has learned and thought with students, colleagues, and the wider world. For yet others—many of whom are members of our administrative staff—it is a time of frantic catch-up and preparation for the coming year, especially for those involved in maintenance and construction at St. Lawrence. The renewal we feel is often the product of being able, in the absence of most of our students, to change directions and re-invest in ourselves so that we can be ready for the next round. The intensity of a university as committed to teaching and learning as is St. Lawrence is very high. Without the change of pace summer affords, few of us would be able to sustain it.

For me the summer break allows time for much more reading, for thinking more single-mindedly about where the university should be going and how we can get there, for trying to lose the extra 20 pounds I typically gain during the year so that I can gain it back again later, and for returning to spend time on some interests of mine that have lain fallow for too long.

This summer at Chautauqua included more gigs with my tuba euphonium quartet and the Thursday Morning Brass (including a return performance at the Bird, Tree and Garden Club’s Mushroom Sandwich Social), no progress whatsoever in learning to play my five-string banjo, throwing out the first pitch at a Sunday game between the Cleveland Indians, whose owner and president is a St. Lawrence alumnus Class of 1980, and the Minnesota Twins (when I lived in Minnesota we used to call them the “Twinkies,” of course), and a great deal of conversation with Ann and friends provoked by the major issues of the Chautauqua lecture platform: the war in Iraq and U. S. foreign policy more broadly, homeland security, cloning and other significant matters in bio-ethics, affirmative action and the Michigan decisions, human sexuality, and the future of the arts in America.

While I was inspired often by new news of startling and powerful human achievements, I remained for much of the time morose at the way so many issues are playing out at home and abroad. At the same time, I struggled with the knowledge that, whatever our political views, in a democracy each of us must take responsibility and engage in actions we deem right and proper to help shape the way things will go. You can’t just cry “foul” from a seat in the bleachers; you have to find a way to get in the game. Because we have that right, I believe we also have that responsibility. But each of us has to figure out what that means for us personally in light of the jobs we have and the various ways we are connected to others. I continue to struggle with that for myself, as I’m sure you do also, but am determined to find a way to have my say—to be in the game and not just a spectator. Helping our students figure that out for themselves, without telling them exactly how to think but helping them learn to think is surely one of our great challenges as a university.

The chance to influence the leaders our students will become is an awesome responsibility and opportunity. Today, in our 148 th year, we convene the university to begin again our many critically important tasks, and to recognize and applaud some terrific students, faculty, and staff. It’s great to be here with you as a part of this great enterprise. /Dean Cornwell, please present the Dean’s List!

The John P. “Jack” Taylor Distinguished Career Service Award

Convocation August 29, 2002 – Daniel F. Sullivan

The John P. “Jack” Taylor Distinguished Career Service Award is given periodically to recognize an administrator who has worked at St. Lawrence for a minimum of twelve years and who sustains the exceptionally high standard of performance exemplified by Jack Taylor, retired Director of Dining Services. Its purpose is to recognize devotion to students and quality workmanship in a well-respected member of the campus community. It is a wonderful award to have, because so often in colleges and universities exceptional work by administrative staff goes under-recognized.

This year’s award goes to someone of outstanding dedication and commitment to excellence—a person who has worked continually at St. Lawrence for 33 years, a “mom” to many current students and alumni, including some trustees, unfailingly responsive, a “can do” person in every area of her responsibility, a fierce and ferocious Saints hockey fan deeply loyal to St. Lawrence, the person responsible for making sure the peanut butter filled chocolate cookies—my absolute favorite—arrive warm from the oven to special events all over campus, and just the kind of staff member the Jack Taylor Award was designed to recognize.

I am delighted to announce today that Dorothy Fletcher, Food Service Production Manager, is this year’s recipient of the Jack Taylor Award. Dorothy, will you please come forward!