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Zachary M. Raimi Smoke & Mirrors |
For better or worse, I will not be speaking at graduation.
However, as I prepare to leave Ann Arbor, there are a few things I want to say. Below is the speech I would have delivered:
The scene outside of Markley Hall four years ago was one of chaos and disorder. The sky was grey and brooding; it rained incessantly. There was a massive traffic jam and people were scattered everywhere. New University students, including myself, raced through the narrow hallways of the dorm trying to buy carpet, unpack and say goodbye to their parents.
Now, on graduation day, it is hard to believe that any of us survived our first meeting with the University. At that time, the University seemed unmanageable, and its essence seemed elusive. But as time passed and I became acquainted with the school and all it offers, I, like so many of my peers, developed a deep appreciation for the school and its role in society.
It is a role that attempts to prepare future generations of leaders by equipping them with tools to improve their lives and communities. Some of these tools are intangible - like the ability to think critically and a deepening of perspectives - and others can be grasped, like factual knowledge and a diploma. This tool-gathering process is a two-way street. The University must always offer students opportunities to expand their minds, redefine and refine their ideals, and challenge the established order. And students must take advantage of such opportunities. Essentially, the relationship is a covenant.
What 'U' must do
The University has the duty to maintain high standards of learning. Currently, the University does not provide a rigorous enough writing program. Students are graduating without the ability to construct a logical paragraph or even a complex sentence. Such ignorance threatens to erode one of humans' most fundamental ways of communicating. This is a problem, and it must change.
In too many classrooms, educators are opting for the easy way out. Standardized tests are replacing more rigorous and analytical exams. Students' individuality is not being nurtured; instead, they are being trained to think like machines. Overall, there is not enough emphasis on critical thinking. This is a problem, and it must change.
But not all is bad. One of the University's greatest strengths is its diversity. The institution continues to enroll high levels of racial and ethnic minorities. Moreover, it matriculates students of all different socioeconomic backgrounds. As a result, there is the potential for rich dialogue among students from these varying backgrounds, which offers students the opportunity to learn about new cultures, and in the process, devise ways to effectively articulate their own backgrounds and beliefs. And, this rich diversity allows people to deepen their perspectives on human relations and to learn to work better with others. This must continue.
Students and the covenant
While the University has a responsibility to provide a rich array of opportunities, students have the responsibility to take advantage of them. Many educators do wish to engage students in the pursuit of knowledge and the expansion of their intellectual capabilities. Several of my professors, for example, have taken a personal interest in my education; this is not uncommon. Such involvement provides a stronger and more challenging environment that benefits everyone. Opportunities are there. Students must respond.
Student apathy is a plague that threatens to erode our voice in University and national affairs. Things that directly affect students are constantly occurring. During the last four years, for example, the University assaulted students' rights with its implementation of a grossly paternalistic Code of Student Conduct. And the U.S. government threatened to cut financial aid, which would put the cost of education out of reach for thousands. Students must never accept these actions; instead, it is incumbent upon them to defend their rights. Students must respond.
As we leave the sheltered confines of Ann Arbor and head into the world, it is important to remember that every action has a consequence. To deal with these consequences, we can draw upon our experiences with a diverse student body and our improved ability to think critically; we can use these tools to make a difference. In the end, the University will be an integral part of our lives, as our lives were an integral part of it. The covenant must continue.
Although it is time to move on, I leave with sadness. It has been a remarkable journey.
- Zack Raimi can be reached over e-mail at rmz@umich.edu.