MURFREESBORO, Tenn. —
Thousands of new MTSU freshmen and transfer students will help usher in the
2018-19 academic year along with their families during University Convocation at 5 p.m. Saturday, Aug. 25, in Murphy
Center. The public is invited.
Attendees will hear from President Sidney A. McPhee, Vice President of Student Affairs Deb Sells and attorney Bryan Stevenson, author of “Just Mercy:
A Story of Justice and Redemption,” who penned the Summer Reading selection.
Convocation
has become an annual rite of fall at MTSU. It is designed to welcome new
students into the learning community and to immediately engage them in the
learning process, said Sells, who is also vice provost for Enrollment and
Academic Services.
“Convocation will be our official start to the new school
year,” Sells said. “We’ll bring in all of the new freshmen and as many transfer
students that want to join us and their family members to kick off the school
year the way we do here at MTSU.”
To find event parking, visit https://www.mtsu.edu/parking/2018ParkingMap.pdf.
A MacArthur fellow and founder and executive director of the
Equal Justice Initiative, Stevenson
is considered one of the country’s most visionary legal thinkers and social
justice advocates. He is a founding leader of the movement against mass incarceration
in the U.S.
Stevenson served on President Barack Obama’s task force on 21st-century policing. His
memoir, “Just Mercy,” is the story of a young lawyer fighting on the frontlines
of a country in thrall to extreme punishments and careless justice.
It is an inspiring story of unbreakable humanity in the most
desperate circumstances, and a powerful indictment of a broken justice system
and the twisted values that allow it to continue.
“It’s a really interesting take on the justice system here
in the South and I think folks will really enjoy the book,” Sells said. “Bryan
will talk about what the book meant to him and why he thinks it is a good read
for the students as they are getting ready to engage in this next step in their
life.”
Sells said for anyone familiar with Stevenson’s name “it may
be because the firm he’s working with now has been very involved with the
museum that recently opened in Montgomery (Alabama), that tells the story of
lynching in America.”
Stevenson originated the National Memorial for Peace and Justice in Montgomery. It features
the names of more than 4,000 African-Americans lynched in 12 Southern states
from 1877 to 1950.
During Convocation, the Band
of Blue will perform and incoming students will recite the True Blue Pledge that outlines the
university’s values. Sells will explain academic regalia traditions and McPhee
also will welcome the new freshman class, transfers and accompanying family
members.
Following Convocation, the annual President’s Picnic will be held in Floyd Stadium. Stevenson will
sign copies of his book starting at 6:30 p.m.
MTSU has more than 300
combined undergraduate and graduate programs.
No comments:
Post a Comment