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Campus "Unrest" Demonstrations, 1970

1970-05-28 James Michael Moses to Members of the Graduating Class Page 1

THE UNIVERSITY OF IOWA NEWS SERVICE
700 Jefferson Building, Iowa City, Iowa 52240   Phone 319/353-3150
May 1970

FOR RELEASE
AFTER 10:30 A.M. THURSDAY, MAY 28, 1970:

STUDENT CHARGE TO THE GRADUATES
By James Michael Moses, graduating senior in medicine
from Escabana, Michigan

Members of the Graduating Class: 
This is not the best of all possible times to be speaking on a university campus. Yet, if one were fearful of speaking here, where could one feel secure in expressing his thoughts? We are all here to celebrate a mood of accomplishment. We are here to give thanks to the past, and we are here to look firmly to the future.
First, let us talk about determination. Determination is present today in terms of financial sacrifice and in terms of human energy. Your parents and you, yourselves, supplied the money, substantial sums of it, to make this day possible. The gown you wear today undoubtedly is the most expensive piece of wearing apparel you've worn, and you paid for it. The human energy was supplied by graduates sitting here now. Energy was also supplied by the faculty of Iowa, and, for that expenditure, we are also grateful.
But determination doesn't end today--it does not end for any of us. We all have a deep and sincere obligation to continue the high level of achievement that this day marks. We must continue to be determined that this university, as well as ourselves, spends its lifetime in the pursuit of excellence. An adequate educaiton, an adequate university, an adequate graduate, an adequate citizen--these are no longer enough--we must all devote and drive ourselves to excellence.
It is true that none of us, including the university, can hope to achieve excellence in all fields of knowledge. But we can achieve a degree of excellence in our own fields of major interest. It is an unhappy fact that almost every individual uses only a small portion of his intellectual ability in his life-time. Unless we are willing to tap fully all our spiritual, intellectual, and physical resources, we cannot expect social improvement or even social survival. The University exists to set the example, but the goal of excellence is for us all, for we are on the verge of producing a nation which knows more and more about less and less.

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THE UNIVERSITY OF IOWA NEWS SERVICE 700 Jefferson Building, Iowa City, Iowa 52240 Phone 319/353-3150 May 1970 FOR RELEASE AFTER 10:30 A.M. THURSDAY, MAY 28, 1970: STUDENT CHARGE TO THE GRADUATES By James Michael Moses, graduating senior in medicine from Escabana, Michigan Members of the Graduating Class: This is not the best of all possible times to be speaking on a university campus. Yet, if one were fearful of speaking here, where could one feel secure in expressing his thoughts? We are all here to celebrate a mood of accomplishment. We are here to give thanks to the past, and we are here to look firmly to the future. First, let us talk about determination. Determination is present today in terms of financial sacrifice and in terms of human energy. Your parents and you, yourselves, supplied the money, substantial sums of it, to make this day possible. The gown you wear today undoubtedly is the most expensive piece of wearing apparel you've worn, and you paid for it. The human energy was supplied by graduates sitting here now. Energy was also supplied by the faculty of Iowa, and, for that expenditure, we are also grateful. But determination doesn't end today--it does not end for any of us. We all have a deep and sincere obligation to continue the high level of achievement that this day marks. We must continue to be determined that this university, as well as ourselves, spends its lifetime in the pursuit of excellence. An adequate educaiton, an adequate university, an adequate graduate, an adequate citizen--these are no longer enough--we must all devote and drive ourselves to excellence. It is true that none of us, including the university, can hope to achieve excellence in all fields of knowledge. But we can achieve a degree of excellence in our own fields of major interest. It is an unhappy fact that almost every individual uses only a small portion of his intellectual ability in his life-time. Unless we are willing to tap fully all our spiritual, intellectual, and physical resources, we cannot expect social improvement or even social survival. The University exists to set the example, but the goal of excellence is for us all, for we are on the verge of producing a nation which knows more and more about less and less. (more)