New students are welcomed in by Evergreen’s President, Les Purce. All Campus Convocation taking place in the CRC. Photographed on Sept. 18, 2012.
Evergreen’s gym was packed; it was standing room only. The air buzzed with anticipation for the start of our All Campus Convocation. In the past convocations haven’t always been this well attended or dynamic. So what made the difference? Here are three keys to this year’s convocation success:
- Civil rights leader Carlotta Walls LaNier as the keynote speaker
- 1,200 copies of LaNier’s book, A Mighty Long Way, mailed to all new students three weeks earlier
- 240 seminars led by faculty to engage new students with LaNier’s book during orientation week
Carlotta Walls LaNier, author of A Mighty Long Way, and President Dr. Les Purce at the Evergreen State College Convocation on Tues., Sept. 18, 2012.
After brief opening remarks by President Les Purce and Provost Michael Zimmerman, LaNier opened her talk with a characterization of the Little Rock Nine’s fight for school integration. A struggle of state rights vs. federal authority, Arkansas governor vs. the President of the United States, 9 kids vs.an angry mob. And at the bottom of it all, a staunch determination to receive a fair and adequate education, marked a major shift in the struggle for desegregation.
Author and speaker Carlotta Walls LaNier speaks to a crowd of over 1,200 students, staff and faculty at The Evergreen State College Convocation on September 18, 2012. LaNier was one of the Little Rock Nine who integrated public schools in Arkansas in 1957.
At the end of this thought provoking and serious look at an important time in our history, Evergreen’s very own Marla Beth Elliott led the crowd in a round of Alma Mater and the Geoduck Fight Song. If you’re feeling rusty on the fight song, Randy Stilson ’77, the college’s much beloved archivist has posted an audio recording and sheet music on the college archives page.
New students, faculty, and staff rally the Evergreen spirit, singing the geoduck fight song! All Campus Convocation taking place in the CRC. Photographed on Sept. 18, 2012.