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President Edward M. Hundert told the Class of 2006 that he shares
a "special bond" with the 850 new undergraduates since this is
his freshman year as University president.
Hundert, who just moved to Cleveland with his wife and three
children, said during the Convocation for Entering Freshman and
their Families last week at Severance Hall that he and the first-year
students also have common questions.
"I am sure we start here together sharing a tremendous sense
of wonder-on the one hand about profound questions concerning
our transformation during this exciting new chapter in our lives,"
he said, "and on the other hand about more narrow, but also pressing
questions, such as where to buy a lamp or some pictures for the
walls."
Answers to the queries about their personal transformations "can
only be discovered by talking with one another," Hundert said.
"Of all the forms of discourse into which I invite you to immerse
yourselves," he added, "the most important and powerful of all
is moral discourse."
CWRU provides in abundance three ingredients needed to create
the "powerful learning environment" that emerges when values are
discussed, according to Hundert. The three ingredients are people
of character and courage to seek the truth, the right settings
and traditions and a culture of respect.
Hundert also shared with the freshman the Hasidic version of
a universal story about the power of moral discourse and reflected
on the president's welcome he listened to 28 years ago as a college
freshman.
He said the message of that address as well as his own are similar:
"You probably have not been as free before. You may not be as
free again. Enjoy the privilege of doubt. Make the most of it."
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