On Sunday I experienced the joy of presiding over my first commencement as president of this wonderful institution. Faculty, staff and the wider University community, all of whom have been involved in the education of the nearly 2,000 graduates in the Class of 2003, have shared along with family and friends in the celebration of these students' accomplishments.

We also have had occasions during the past week to meet in sorrow over the loss of Norman Wallace, a bright and promising MBA student who would have been among the Class of 2004. We grieve the physical injuries suffered by two others and the emotional distress of so many who were directly and indirectly affected by the attack in the Peter B. Lewis Building.

I challenge each of you to find something to carry forward from the experience. Many of us have been reflecting on how this tragedy has brought a community together-the University community, the Cleveland community and beyond.

Since becoming part of this great University, I have had many opportunities to speak to faculty, staff, students, alumni and others in large groups and individually—and I look forward to many more exchanges. Many of these conversations have focused on the vision we have set for the University.

No one can foresee the twists and turns in this remarkable journey we call life, but a vision helps provide direction. It prepares us to face challenges as well as opportunities, many of which are impossible to predict, let alone control. Norman Wallace's life has much to teach us about vision.

Norman was everything our University should stand for: scholarship, love of learning, excellence, generosity of spirit, drive, service to community and outstanding personal character and grace.

As we strive to become the most powerful learning environment in the world, we have dedicated our University community to building partnerships and serving humanity in a diverse and open environment. We have committed ourselves to experiential learning and to investing in the arts, humanities and social sciences. We have devoted ourselves to having transformational impact on all who teach, learn, discover and work here.

So out of this tragedy, I also find cause for hope-hope that from Norman's untimely death will come a renewed sense of commitment to University values and a foundation for building new bridges-bridges that will enable more to follow on the path he blazed and to continue his work. From what I've been privileged to learn about Norman from many, many conversations with his family, friends and teachers, I think he would be very pleased if his life contributed to that purpose. I think we all owe it to him to continue his legacy.

Commencement was a grand and glorious occasion for our graduates and for their friends and families. It was an honor and privilege to share in their triumph. Now let us all rededicate ourselves to the fundamental principles of teaching, learning, research and service, which are the hallmarks of a great research university, the hallmarks of Case Western Reserve.

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