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Connecticut College´s Convocation ceremony marks the official start of the academic year

From left to right: Marc R. Forster, professor of history, winner of the 2007 Nancy Batson Nisbet Rash faculty research award; Derek Turner, associate professor of philosophy, winner of the 2007 John S. King Award; and Dirk Held, the Elizabeth S. Kruidenier ´48 Professor of Classics, winner of the 2007 Helen Brooks Regan Faculty Leadership Award.

August 31, 2007

Connecticut College celebrated the formal opening of the 2007-2008 academic year at the college´s 93rd Convocation yesterday, a ceremony that included remarks from college President Leo I. Higdon Jr., a welcome to new students by Dean of the College Community Armando Bengochea, and the presentation of three of the college´s most prestigious awards for faculty by Dean of the Faculty Roger Brooks.

English Professor John Gordon, who was awarded the 2006 Nancy Batson Nisbet Rash faculty research award at last year´s Convocation, was the keynote speaker. Gordon´s address, "How to Live, What To Do," was a fast-paced, comprehensive top 10 list of advice for students that included everything from "Don´t invade Russia" to "Think for yourselves, don´t think for us," "Never go anywhere without a book" and "Don´t let anyone tell you these are the best four years of your life - college is fine, but it´s not all downhill from here."

Gordon challenged students to question authority at all times. "Too many people at too many colleges are vacuum-sealed and think too much alike. Change this. Think for yourselves," he said.

Three members of the faculty were recognized at the ceremony with awards for research, excellence in teaching and leadership.

Marc Forster, professor of history, was awarded the 2007 Nancy Batson Nisbet Rash faculty research award, presented annually to a faculty member selected on the basis of outstanding scholarly or artistic accomplishments in honor of Rash, an art history professor at the college for 33 years.

Derek Turner, associate professor of philosophy, was awarded the John S. King Award, established to recognize teacher-scholars with high standards of teaching excellence and concern for students. Turner was nominated for the award by a student, who began his recommendation letter, "He loves philosophizing. He enjoys dinosaurs. He occasionally jumps up and down in class … and we love him for it."

The third award, the Helen Brooks Regan Faculty Leadership Award, was presented to Dirk Held, the Elizabeth S. Kruidenier ´48 Professor of Classics. Held is the second faculty member to be honored with this award, which was established at last year´s Convocation and presented to Eugene Gallagher, the Rosemary Park Professor of Religious Studies.

At the ceremony, held annually on the first day of classes, President Higdon said he was happy to have students back on campus. "There is a great sense of energy and excitement throughout our college community that stems from all of you and the work you do in the classrooms, the studios, the stages, the athletic fields," he said.

Higdon also welcomed the class of 2011 to campus, reminding them that they will have the distinct honor of graduating the same year the college celebrates the 100-year anniversary of its founding. He added, "I am deeply committed to liberal arts education as the best foundation for a life that is meaningful and well-lived. Your education will give you the tools to be personally and professionally successful."

As is traditional at Convocation, the 493 freshmen, along with 18 transfer students, one new return-to-college student and three exchange students, stood to recite the college´s Honor Code, which embodies the personal responsibility and integrity prized most highly by the Connecticut College community. The freshmen were also presented with a class banner, a gift from the college´s alumni association. Class banners are displayed on significant occasions during the students´ four years on campus and later at their reunions.

The ceremony was also the first day for the college´s 24 new visiting and tenure track faculty. These new faculty members, Brooks told the college community, are experts "on everything from religion, ethnicity and language in Bangladesh to exotic species invasion in the Pacific Northwest."

For more information contact: Amy Martin (860) 439-2526; a.martin@conncoll.edu