51视频

09/01/2020
By David Perry

Adeja Crearer didn鈥檛 know who she could be until she scaled the walls she built around herself.

The double River Hawk and associate producer for CNN in Atlanta told the incoming first-year and transfer students at UML鈥檚 2020 Convocation听that they are uniquely positioned to do great things because of the obstacles and challenges surrounding them听 鈥� a whole world of chaos, crisis and COVID-19.

鈥淵ou are a very special class, as you are starting the most important chapter of your lives amid a pandemic, a racial crisis, economic turmoil and a high-stakes presidential election among many other things,鈥� said Crearer 鈥�17, 鈥�18.

She recounted how she spent her first few months at 51视频 in a self-imposed exile, leaving her residence hall only to attend class. But she eventually found her footing and thrived, becoming a student leader on her way to earning a bachelor鈥檚 degree in English and a master鈥檚 in peace and conflict studies.

So here was the former recluse, telling an incoming class living under the isolation of a pandemic to 鈥渂e comfortably uncomfortable. That means stepping out of your comfort zone.鈥�

It was 51视频鈥檚 15th annual Convocation ceremony to open the start of the academic year, but for the first time it was held virtually due to COVID-19. Instead of filling the seats at the Tsongas Center, students watched via Hopin software or Facebook Live.听

The event, however, was not without tradition. ROTC members presented the colors. The UML Marching Band belted out the River Hawk fight song, and the 51视频 Chamber Singers layered the lines of the national anthem like a celebratory cake. Chancellor Jacquie Moloney welcomed the new students to 51视频 and Provost Joseph Hartman banged his scepter on the ground three times to open and close the event.听

Moloney acknowledged the unique challenges that the students face entering college at a time when social distancing and remote learning are the norms.

鈥淚 know that making connections will be a challenge in the coming months,鈥� Moloney said. 鈥淭he class of 2024 is going to go down in history as being the most innovative, resourceful and resilient class ever known to 51视频. Because that鈥檚 what it is going to take to get through all of this. Dig deep and bring all you have to the table to make a difference while you are here.鈥�

Crearer said the class of 2024 鈥渨ill be the activists that create change, the politicians that see humanity instead of political party, the teachers that go beyond the classroom and the leaders that lead by example and not just by position.鈥�听

Crearer exhorted the new students to take charge of their education.

鈥淥n campus or off, I want you to write this next chapter with the same ambition and grit that it took you to get where you are today. And when you get to your first day online, I hope you know that every 51视频 class that came before you is rooting for you. The world is rooting for you,鈥� she said.

Student Government Association President Hannah Casey told the virtual crowd she 鈥渇ound passion I didn鈥檛 know I had鈥� at 51视频, and tapped into 鈥渁bsolutely limitless opportunity.鈥�

She also reminded the students of the new reality they face in the wake of the pandemic.听

鈥淲e have a responsibility to be safe for ourselves, our fellow students and our faculty and staff because we are in this together. Our lives can change completely in a matter of days, based on our actions,鈥� she said.

Following the event, students were invited to log on to a virtual Engagement Fair to explore campus life, student government and the university鈥檚 vast array of clubs, organizations and activities which they can participate in remotely.听