August 2, 2008

Purdue president urges graduates to commit to social responsibility

Córdova spoke to graduates during the summer commencement ceremony in Elliott Hall of Music, where 1,184 degrees were conferred. The graduates included 538 people receiving undergraduate degrees, 360 master's degrees, 280 doctoral degrees and six professional degrees.

"You are the inventors, the shapers, the accelerators of our future," she said. "You have much to do, and in this moment you are ready to go out and start this important work. Your discoveries will lead to more knowledge, more breakthroughs, and hopefully, you will uncover even deeper questions."

Córdova told the graduates that Rachel Carson, the American marine biologist and nature writer whose work is credited with advancing the global environmental movement, once said: "Every mystery solved brings us to the threshold of a greater one."

As the graduates move forward in their lives, either by continuing their educations or joining the work force, Córdova said they will see many new technologies emerge that will challenge the way people live and work.

"Your Purdue education has helped you become ready for the world of the 21st century, a century filled with large global challenges, ones that cry out for smart changes, not just in technology, but in thinking," she said. "Look to your left, look to your right. You may be sitting next to a future CEO, a future teacher, doctor, or college president. One thing we know for certain: You will be the change agents of the 21st century."

There is more to education than books or the discovery of new knowledge; there also should be a commitment to social responsibility, Córdova said. That commitment cultivates curiosity about new ideas and differing views, and it also encourages personal responsibility, accountability, and ethical and moral responsibility. It also strengthens people's capacity to take seriously the perspective of others, and to increase their tolerance for ambiguity, she said.

"These should not be goals only on our college campuses, but should be standards that we hold ourselves to throughout our lives," Córdova said. "While I’ve talked about change, we all know that some things never change, like the relationship of hard work to success; the importance of friends and family to our well-being; and the desire and need to share ourselves with others."

She told graduates that service to others is a way to share what they have with other people, and it always rewards people with more than they give.

"As you leave this campus today, you will represent Purdue to all the people whose lives you will touch," Córdova said. "I know you will represent Purdue well. I believe you are ready to take Boilermaker pride and Boilermaker commitment far and wide to make a difference everywhere you go."

Writer: Christy Jones, (765) 494-1089, christyjones@purdue.edu

Source: France A. Córdova, president@purdue.edu

Purdue News Service: (765) 494-2096; purduenews@purdue.edu

Note to Journalists: The full text of President Córdova's commencement speech is available at http://news.uns.purdue.edu/x/2008b/080802SP-CordovaCommenc.html

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