President David T. McLaughlin Valedictory

Men and Women of the Class of 1983:

You were matriculated jnto this college as impressionable, anxious, and thoroughly "pea-green freshmen," and through a remarkable transformation, you now go forth as men and women who are enriched and broadened in intellect; more worldly in experience; confident in yourselves; and, one would also very much hope, less absolute in your opinions.

At the College's convocation ceremony in the fall of 1979, President John G. Kemeny directed this special message to the members of the Class of 1983: "As you go through your college years . . . you will find the College will challenge your basic beliefs. I hope it will challenge your prejudices and I hope that many of them will crumble. I hope that you will make use of what the College offers to build a new body of beliefs which you have carefully examined . . . that you will do a job of synthesis in addition to the job of analysis."

You of the graduating class have, on this occasion, the oppor- tunity to look back upon and to assess that which President Kemeny urged you to undertake. For those who did not during these past four years totally fulfill his charge to you in this regard and I suspect there just may be a few such, standing here before me now you should find both encouragement and reassurance in the realization that the formulation of ones con- victions and of the body of one's beliefs is an ongoing process. Within the liberal arts, indeed, it is never ending.

You as graduates in 1983 are entering a world that is uncer- tain, except for the certainty that human condition will never remain in a constant state. And this circumstance requires that those who relate and contribute positively to this ever-changing condition, those who have had the privilege of being educated toward that purpose shall be involved in an "evergreen learning experience: always questioning, forever growing, peren- nially renewing one's sense of self and extending one's personal development in a world that cries out for leadership and for understanding. ■ • . r.i i^frhe

On this day of Commencement, the measure of the role ot t College has played in your development and, through you, m society's well-being will be gauged as you leave this special place, as you go forth variously to pursue your individual careers, to contribute to greater causes than those careers alone, an t continue, very particularly, your lifetime of liberal learning. " just as this leave-taking is a natural and a necessary element o t e Dartmouth experience, may I stress that so is returning. - . , in

Until we meet again, know that you take with you our pri ■ your accomplishments, our affection for you, and our confi w in you. We wish you luck this within the embrace o c sustaining bond that will forever exist between you and yo college.