MURFREESBORO. Tenn. —
Alabama attorney and founder and executive director of the Equal Justice Initiative Bryan Stevenson left thousands of new and
returning MTSU students and others with a message of hope and mercy when he
spoke Saturday (Aug. 25) at the 17th Middle Tennessee State University Convocation in Murphy Center.
From freshmen to faculty and administrators, most agreed
Stevenson helped jump-start the 2018-19 academic year with a power talk
centered on his calling to provide and promote social justice for the
injustices people around the country have experienced.
Convocation,
an annual rite of fall at MTSU, is designed to welcome new students into the
learning community and to immediately engage them in the learning process. More
than 5,000 people attended the formal ceremony, which later included the
President’s Picnic in Floyd Stadium.
To view video from Convocation, visit https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=s4k-IdJ1Zrc.
“We need to change how we do systems and laws so not as many
people are incarcerated,” said Jamil
Hayes, 18, a freshman aerospace technology major from La Vergne, Tennessee,
and May graduate of La Vergne High School.
Grace Goodman,
18, of Murfreesboro, a Central Magnet School May graduate who plans to pursue
nursing at MTSU, said she “loved him (Stevenson). I read the book. He
completely turned me around on capital punishment, that you never realize the
situation until you are there. People judge other people too harshly.”
Stevenson wrote “Just Mercy: A Story of Justice and
Redemption,” which was the Class of 2022’s Summer Reading selection. His memoir
is the story of a young lawyer fighting on the frontlines of a country in
thrall to extreme punishments and careless justice.
College of Basic and
Applied Sciences Dean Bud Fischer
read Stevenson’s book two years ago. “He’s amazing. He was great,” Fischer
said. “… What he does and where he does it (Montgomery, Alabama) is
phenomenal.”
Stevenson offered mind-boggling statistics regarding
incarceration to support his mission.
“Even if you are a (University Honors College) Buchanan
Scholar or (MTSU) faculty member, you’ve got to change the narrative,”
Stevenson said in his talk.
“You have to make a choice,” the Harvard Law School graduate
added. “Sometimes you have to do uncomfortable things to save the world. …
People change the world when they let ideas in their mind fuel conviction in
your heart and do the things that must be done to leave a more approximate
society.”
Stevenson concluded by saying he wanted “to celebrate you
(students), congratulate you and thank you for allowing me to be part of your
journey by having this opportunity to speak today.”
“What an amazing afternoon,” said Deb Sells, vice president of Student Affairs and vice provost for
Enrollment and Academic Services, before releasing the faculty and platform
members and giving the students one last order of business: singing the MTSU
fight song as Director Craig Cornish led the Band of Blue performing the
popular tune.
Earlier, after reciting the True Blue Pledge, which outlines
the university’s values, everyone holding the sign turned it around to reveal “I
AM true BLUE” for a photo opportunity.
“This is one of the most exciting times of the year,”
President Sidney A. McPhee said.
“Beginnings are always special, but this Convocation celebrates and honors our
newest students.” He told them they “will meet individuals who may literally
change your life.”
The president urged them to “develop relationships with
faculty and staff” and to return in four years for their graduation.
McPhee recognized high school essay-winning students and
teachers from Smyrna, Riverdale, Stewarts Creek in Smyrna and Nashville’s Christ Presbyterian Academy.
Trustee and alumna Pam
Wright of Nashville, 2018-19 Student Trustee Peyton Tracy and Student Government Association President Courtney Brandon shared brief remarks.
Classes will begin Monday, Aug. 27.
MTSU has more than 300
combined undergraduate and graduate programs.
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