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[MUSIC under]
>> President Joseph McGowan: Members of the Bellarmine community, honored guests, family
and friends, Colleges are hopeful institutions in that
they anticipate a future for society and believe that they can play a role in shaping
a future in society. While colleges exists for the future they
exist in the present and thus their work in shaping the future is made all
the easier or all the more difficult depending on how the world is faring.
We need images and symbols to nurture and sustain hope and we are presently and suddenly
awash with such images If we have a sense of future we can hope.
From economic markets to environmental issues the lunar prospective and image of our planet
as one little blue and white ball suspended in the cosmic darkness is increasingly poignant.
That the world is incredibly rich and diverse in its cultures, ethnic groups, races, religions
and creeds And yet that the world is finally one in its
basic humanity needs and interests. As college students have encouraged hope as
most are happy, confident and successful individuals >>student: Capable of serious academic work
>> student: When properly taught and challenged >>student: Capable of great friendships and
much love >>student: and of dedicated generous service
to others >>Pres. McGowan: Students deserve our greatest
respect because coming of age at any time in any society has always been a challenging
experience
[music]
>>Pres. McGowan: The main reason for this recognition, for the academic excellence it
represents is the Bellarmine college faculty
>>student: Bellarmine faculty are the greatest resource in that they are well qualified
>>Pres. McGowan: dedicated to teaching it to students and committed to teaching each
student >>student: as an individual and as a whole
person >>Pres. McGowan: Bellarmine faculty are therefore
not only effective teachers in the classroom but outside the classroom as well and our
students regularly testify to our faculty exceptional availability and personal interest.
Bellarmine College will do everything in its power to further support and encourage good
teaching. While an institutional vision looks to the
future based on an understanding of the present, we must keep in mind
>>student: the present includes the past >>Pres. McGowan: and so my vision for Bellarmine
College includes the past and present and thus achieves,
>>student: achieves perspective and texture
[music]
>>Pres. McGowan: My role as President is to understand and interpret and advance this
collective vision of the Bellarmine community >>student: a great vision built on great hope
>>student: intellectual growth of students is Bellarmine major goal
>>Pres. McGowan: Bellarmine College will make every effort to support their intellectual
and personal growth to the fullest extent possible.
The support will include, among other things, the construction and renovation of facilities
to enhance these activities. With sacredness and value of each student
as a person will be respected >>student: and diversity of the student body
will be aggressively pursued
>>Pres. McGowan: Most importantly for human development it is through the liberal arts
and sciences that we can best teach students to understand and appreciate
>>student: their personal value and self worth >>Pres. McGowan: it is through such a curriculum
that students can best learn to understand value and appreciate others as well.
In both their diversity and their common human bond.
There will be successful varsity and intramural and recreational athletic programs
and we will have a strong campus ministry program
with ecumenical outreach >>student: oriented towards social action
and community service >>student: Concern for and service to others
>>Pres. McGowan: will be strongly and actively encouraged, as will environmental and international
awareness. Through liberal arts a student can also learn
about being a person and about the world In such a way to enable him or her
>>student: to have a strong family >>student: To create good schools
>>student: To participate fully in the life of his or her church
>>Pres. McGowan: and to be a successful and worthy community or government leader
And I ask our God to bless us all, in veritatis amore.
Student: In veritatis Amore. Student: In veritatis Amore.
Student: In veritatis Amore. Student: In veritatis Amore.
Student: In veritatis Amore.
>>Pres. McGowan: Thank you.
[Music]
[Applause]