Southeastern Massachusetts University - Scrimshaw Yearbook (North Dartmouth, MA)

Page 16 text:

Tiny Fernandez Student Government President Upon graduation, many of us will secure lucrative positions in employment while others will begin post-graduate studies. Still yet, some of us might be confronted with large unemployment lines. The crucial question that must be considered is, how many of us will return to our communities to aid those not as skilled and as educated as we are? We live in a highly technological society where our government officials pay lip service to the cause of Human Rights. While in our own country, thousands know the realities of poverty T2 and discrimination. The young, the old, the poor, and minorities are thought to be a burden instead of a responsibility, and are consistently exploited. We have been advantageous enough to attain many skills that can be utilized in the quest for human rights for all the citizens of this nation. Unfortunately, many of us will use these skills only for our personal advancement. We are the leaders of the next generation and hopefully we have been taught to be better persons and not just better talkers like some of our predecessors. tRemember the educated 75 Watergaters?l I strongly urge the class of T978 to break this trend of personal gratification andthe exploitation that affects all of us but consistently oppresses the people of this nation. Go back to your communities and get involved in the struggle. I would contend that if we don't work consistently for change, this nation is going to erupt and there may be nothing to change. I wish all of you the best of luck and much success in the struggle to free the masses.

Page 15 text:

3 Kevin O'NeilI, Student Trustee Education today is not vvhat it used to be. Higher education is not above attack by a large segment of contemporary society which increasingly emphasizes the technical or vocational training of its citizenry. Public universities in the future will rely more than ever before on the support of the educated for their survival. Traditionally, students have had little involvement in the development and operations of the university other than the routine classroom experience. This is clearly not the case today. Students are actively involved on all levels of the decision-making process and increase their influence yearly. During our four years at SMU vve managed to affect policy on the state and university level to an unprecedented degree. Various sorties to the steps of the State House enable us to open the eyes of legislators to the neglected needs of SMU. Our repeated forays into Board of Trustees meetings, Administrative offices and assorted enclaves of Deans, faculty, and staff succeeded in shaping the direction of the University on both personal and policy related matters. The Campus Center takeover, the Keep SMU Independent campaign, increased Library funding, Spring Weekend, the Bob Dylan concert, and countless other activities all happened because we did. In one way or another, vve directed the course of SMU for four years. We can continue to do so long after graduation. SMU is a young institution and needs our help to reach its full potential. Legislators still need to be .lobbied for adequate financial support. The technical needs of society still need to be balanced vvith its liberal underpinnings. Both young and old still need to be assured of quality education on all levels to become better people and therefore better citizens. Our efforts in the past have allowed SMU to defend successfully its ground in shaping a progressive regional model of quality higher education. Its future will depend largely on your continued support. The education that you needed is the education that will need you. Don't let graduation take the you out of SMU.

Page 17 text:

loanne Morrison Kuliga President, Class of 1978 SMU, like all universities, is a multi- faceted institution, providing each of us with a variety of opportunities for learning and growth. SMU, however, is special for two reasons, aside from its unique architecture. First, it is a very young university, still reaching out in its growth to serve the community in which it lies. SMU is vital to the Southeastern Massachusetts community because for so many it holds out the only affordable opportunity for higher learning. That is why there is such strong sentiment to keep this university autonomous, despite legislative attempts at statewide reorganizational plans. SMU is unique also in its democratic approach to policy-making at all levels. know of no other university where students play such an important role in shaping the pattern of growth, from academic issues like grade appeal and curriculum, to social issues like health services and child care. The participative atmosphere here has fostered some of the most responsible student leadership of any university anywhere. And l am proud to attest that some of our finest student leaders are members of the Class of 1978. Since our freshman year there have been emerging from our ranks so many bright, enthusiastic, hard-working people with such enormous potential, l feel proud to be a member of this graduating class. In the way of final parting remarks, I just want to say: SMU -You're special! Class of '78 - You're great!