Northern Essex Community College - Lumen Yearbook (Haverhill, MA)

Page 21 text:

PRESIDENT’S MESSAGE The other day I read an article from my files which discussed an educational topic somewhat different from the typical approach today. The title of the article was “Traditions in Stone.” The th eme was the idea that every college and uni- versity expresses its aspirations and achievements through architecture. Mention was made of the impact that the buildings have made on generations of students in such places as The Harvard Yard, West Point, Southern Florida with its tower, the University of Virginia with its library and wall, and many oth- ers. Something permanent takes place in the minds of those who study in such lo- cations. Good architecture is a fringe benefit. When we look at our small college with its old and uninspiring buildings, all of them temporary, we feel that something is lacking. There seems to be no symme- try, no order, no plan that speaks a constant message to all. In a sense, we have little relationship to a meaningful past. All is prologue; all is prospect; nothing can be held on to by the successive student groups. Yet we have done a great deal in this old building of ours. We have developed many basic principles of intellectual and social maturity that will abide. Our stu- dents have a reasonably good sense of freedom, of self-determination, and of strong hope for the future. In our interaction with faculty, fellow students, and the disciplines that we study, we have already linked ourselves to the greatest tradition of all, growth and development with a sense of purpose in life. We achieved this in old buildings which seem tired and inadequate. We have done this and much more because we are developing a sense of destiny. We know that we are approaching the end of this portion of the way. Immedi- ately ahead of us are many new and wonderful things. We now realistically antici- pate a new campus, new expansiveness, new standards made possible by new fa- cilities. All will soon be new. Only one thing will be unchanged, that is. our sense of direction. We have known all along where we were going. Only now do we see that we too will have visible reminders of our aspirations, those that are “Traditions in Stone.” The true traditions will still be in our students and our staff. We will never lose sight of the value of persons. But soon we will have spaces, buildings, facilities, and all the tangible things that add beauty and strength to our values. You are among the last of those who will spend all your community college life in inadequate surroundings. Good luck to you as you go on. You truly deserve the best in the years to come. It has been a privilege to be with you in these two ex- citing years. 17