Sesquicentennial Address

In 1998, the University of Mississippi celebrated is Sesquicentennial. The year-long celebration culminated in Chancellor Robert C. Khayat's Sesquicentennial Address, November 6 1998.

Our Sesquicentennial celebration has been a time for reflection and renewal - a time for honest evaluation of our strengths and weaknesses. We have used this opportunity to establish goals and develop plans that upon implementation will assure realization of our vision.

Against the backdrop of our rich history and upon the firm foundation laid by those who preceded us, we move forward to fulfill our destiny. We are a microcosm of society, and we continue to serve as a sanctuary for those who teach and learn, those who seek, question, and experiment to push forward the frontiers of knowledge. Our time has come to emerge and be recognized as one of America's great public universities. We have vigorously pursued our mission of teaching, research, and service, but we have also functioned as a laboratory for leaders, a pioneer in scientific and social exploration, and a catalyst in America's struggle for a free and just society. Today, we claim the reward of 150 years of leadership and service, and we mark this day as a milestone in our history.

As we enter a new century, the door is opening on one of the most exciting eras in the life of the University. We have re-affirmed the vision of our first Chancellor, Frederick A. P. Barnard, who sought to "place this university in the front ranks of American collegiate institutions." Realization of our vision requires a relentless commitment to integrity and quality . . . unwavering in our belief that as a community of professional people we provide the best hope for society. The educational experience at this university is holistic - providing our students opportunities to develop and strengthen mind, body, and spirit with an increasing awareness of the responsibilities each of us accepts as participating members of a free society.

Former Governor William Winter, spoke of the University's educational place in Mississippi in 1995 and his words compel us to continue our commitment. He said, "Great institutions can never be self-satisfied. This great institution with its unique history and meaningful traditions must never be content simply to rest on those traditions. We must not be afraid to reach for new goals, search for higher challenges, and seek greater fields of service."

This convocation is a celebration of the resilience, courage, and vision of this community - and as we celebrate, we look to the future with anticipation and excitement.

Today we announce a $200 million dollar capital campaign for excellence. This initiative to attract private support for our academic programs is the culmination of four years of planning, preparation, and preliminary activities. The response of our alumni, faculty, staff, students, and friends has been enthusiastic and overwhelming, and we are ready to pursue the margin of excellence that will be made available to our faculty, staff, and students. Specific goals will be vigorously pursued until met or exceeded and the result will be a stronger, richer, more beautiful university.

This is the destiny of a talented community of a people who have believed in hard work, family, faith, and a commitment to a place called Mississippi. We have emerged strong, driven by our common experiences and our belief in ourselves. An Atlanta journalist defined this attitude in an article last year. He said: "It's never wise to compare hearts to Ole Miss. It's a contest you can only lose."

We must include William Faulkner in our dialogue today. I trust we will always honor his presence in our lives-- he's all around us. His words reflected the life of Mississippians and this University, and they guide us today. He defines our purpose of being--our reasons for teaching, learning, and service--our responsibility to nurture and guide students and to provide extraordinary educational opportunities for them. The life of the University has been "a life's work in the agony and sweat of the human spirit, not for glory and least of all for profit, but to create out of the materials of the human spirit something which did not exist before. It is [our] privilege to help [young women and men] endure by lifting [their] hearts, by reminding [them] of the courage and honor and hope and pride and compassion and pity and sacrifice which has been the glory of [our] past." His singular mission to reflect the human condition and respect for the individual lies at the heart of this university. We take it very seriously, and the results have been the reward we see in our graduates and through the service they do for our communities, state, nation, and the world.

The echoes of our past support the voices of our future. We will continue to nurture learning, guide the human spirit, transcend our greatest expectations and fulfill our mission of academic excellence. This is part of our "genetic material" as Judith Rodin uses to describe the traits of the University of Pennsylvania. It has been our spirit of daring, our willingness to experiment as an incubator of "firsts" that defines our "essence as a University."

From her speech:

"The (Ole Miss) experience begins with the majesty and excitement of this campus. We fill this place and these spaces from (the Grove to the Library, and the Lyceum to the intramural fields) with a perpetual process of interaction - thousands upon thousands of daily contacts between students, faculty, staff, alumni, and friends. We never know when the sparks will ignite, what explosion or chain reaction will result. . . .We must never forget that human interaction is at the core of our purpose and our mission. The people of (Ole Miss) are its essence. Over the years a set of "verities' has evolved that protects the sanctity of both these people and this place. They include: uncompromising integrity, mutual respect, and freedom of expression."

I have heard with gratitude the steadfast support of alumni who believe that if anything can make a difference in this world, it is the advancement of knowledge. (We) have an awe-inspiring challenge. I come to it with a passion for education, a reverence for this university, and an excitement about how we can seize the future. Me: (We can do this if we continue our commitment to and deep abiding affection for Ole Miss. This intangible quality provides the vision, the passion, and the energy to sustain us as we meet the new century.)

Judith Rodin again:

"Together, let us feel the glory and power of this place and its history. Together, let us be advocates for the University's needs, our mission, and our common good. Together, let us celebrate Ole Miss' special legacy and unique gifts, and proudly hold our rightful place among America's and the world's leading academic institutions. The University of Mississippi and the State of Mississippi deserve no less. Together, let us move ahead."

And now, I offer this quote from Education in the 21^st Century:

"Education in the best form includes intellectual, emotional, spiritual, and social growth and development with the need to nurture our minds, bodies, and spirits continuing throughout our lives."

President John F. Kennedy wrote: "Let us think of education as a means of developing our greatest abilities, because in each of us there is a dream which, fulfilled, can be translated into benefit for everyone and greater strength for our nation."

As we celebrate the 150thh anniversary of The University of Mississippi, we realize the important mission we began in 1848 to educate the young people of our state, region, and nation. We can take great pride in our leadership, our remarkable accomplishments and progress, and our continued commitment to academic excellence.

The challenge has always been, and will continue to be, striking a balance between learning those skills necessary for practical realities and needs of life while developing an appreciation and understanding of those subjects that enrich our lives and nourish our souls. The support each of you--students, faculty, staff, alumni, parents, and friends--even more so--the margin of excellence. Our young people deserve the opportunities we are creating. We already see the remarkable response of students and faculty to the growth in our library, our academic programs, and our learning environment--their thirst for learning, teaching, and research is exciting and compelling.

Traditional methods will sustain a good university, but we will not settle for being good. Our commitment is to recognition as One of America's Great Public Universities. Our quest is for a chapter of Phi Beta Kappa that will strengthen all of our academic programs and provide extraordinary opportunities for extraordinary people.

We invite you to join us at this exciting time in the life of the University. The Sesquicentennial Celebration provides an exciting opportunity for us to highlight the University's legacy of leadership and our bright future and continue to invest in our future. The faculty, staff, and students join me in thanking you for helping us achieve the margin of excellence. We are richly blessed, and we pledge to be good stewards of the resources entrusted to us as we prepare the University to continue its strong leadership into the 21st century.