天美传媒

Chancellor Marcelo Su谩rez-Orozco Delivers First Convocation Address

鈥� Let me say this loud and clear, in Spanish first: Mi casa es su casa. UMass Boston es su casa! 鈥�

Officially launching an 鈥渁nything but ordinary鈥� academic year with a virtual convocation address, UMass Boston Chancellor Marcelo Su谩rez-Orozco called on the higher education community to 鈥渟harpen its focus and redouble our endeavors to forge anew the indispensable tools for social justice.鈥�

In the time of a pandemic that is particularly devastating to communities of color, unchecked climate change bringing suffering to the world鈥檚 poorest regions, structural racialization and inequality, the intergenerational persistence of anti-Blackness, xenophobia, and anti-immigrant policies, Su谩rez-Orozco said that higher education is more important today than ever before in history.

鈥淢oving forward, our responsibility 鈥� your responsibility as new members of the Beacon community 鈥� is significant,鈥� he said. 鈥淚n the age of atavistic hate, anti-science and anti-rationality, higher education offers precious tools for science, logic, and facts-based debate.鈥�

The chancellor was one of nine speakers 鈥� including UMass President Martin Meehan and Trustee Imari K. Paris Jeffries 鈥� who joined convocation from various locations to officially kick off the 2020-21 academic year through a video released on YouTube, Facebook, and the university website. Danielle Allen, the James Bryant Conant University Professor at Harvard University, gave the keynote address.

In his remarks, Su谩rez-Orozco acknowledged to students that starting or continuing their UMass Boston journey amid a global pandemic is anything but ordinary.

鈥淯nder these most trying of circumstances, your journey of study, discovery, and self-discovery is rigorous. It is a journey full of possibilities and full of potential. But your new beginnings are marked by uncertainty in the midst of great suffering, pain, fear, and so much loss,鈥� he said. 鈥淢y deep hope is that all members of the Beacon family, of your family, are healthy and staying safe.鈥�

Su谩rez-Orozco said that as scholars and citizens, we cannot take a passive role in addressing the suffering around us.

鈥淲e are entering an era of dangerous climate change, and climate extremes will move into our living rooms, instead of happening thousands of miles away to someone else,鈥� he said. 鈥淩acist violence and destruction, now taking the form of what Pope Francis has called an 鈥榠ndustry of death,鈥� is bequeathing an empire of suffering in every city large and small.

鈥淎s scholars, scientists, artists, humanists and practitioners who are committed to social justice, we must reflect on our privileges and act in all that we do against the systemic racism that impacts our community and the children and families and communities who we serve,鈥� he said. 鈥淲e must address racism and anti-Blackness and its impact on the daily lives and opportunities of individuals of color.鈥�

He said he demands of himself and expects the entire Beacon family 鈥� faculty, students, and staff 鈥� to embody an ethos and practice based on respect for the dignity of all human beings.

He emphasized that acts of intolerance, discrimination, bullying, and overt and covert bias stand in complete opposition to the spirit that animates UMass Boston and our lives as scholars and practitioners.

鈥淚 never thought I would have to say this publicly but in the age when so many continue to peddle the fool鈥檚 gold of division and hate, I must: If you are an immigrant, documented or undocumented, let me say this loud and clear, in Spanish first: Mi casa es su casa,鈥� he said. 鈥�UMass Boston es su casa!!! If you are a Muslim, UMass Boston is your house. If you are a person of color, it鈥檚 your house, it鈥檚 our house, if you are LGBTQ, it鈥檚 your house, it鈥檚 our house. If you are a Native person, we know we are in your house!鈥�

Closing his remarks, he offered students some advice: Even if on Zoom, make sure to meet and to get to know someone different that yourself.

鈥淏oston is one of the most amazingly diverse cities on earth,鈥� he said. 鈥淪o get to know someone from somewhere else!鈥�

Student speakers Janrey Javier 鈥�21 and Jaely Pereira '21, the Undergraduate Student Government president and vice president, Jenn Pletcher, Graduate Student Assembly president, and Stephanie Beauvil 鈥�21, a program assistant in the Office of Social Justice Leadership and Service, welcomed the campus to convocation.

Earlier in the program, Provost Emily McDermott welcomed 19 new tenure-track faculty members recruited to campus this year through national searches. Another 39 faculty members were recognized for being promoted to the rank of associate professor, full professor, senior lecturer, and senior lecturer II.

Jeffries 鈥�97, G鈥�99, G鈥�03 said though the ceremony was conducted virtually, it was no less significant.

鈥淥ne of the reasons I鈥檓 honored to be here is because the University of Massachusetts is in my blood. It鈥檚 in my DNA. I am a proud three-time graduate of UMass Boston鈥攁 triple Beacon,鈥� he said. 鈥淚 owe much of my success to this university鈥� the faculty who challenged me every day and were here to help me, my classmates whose idealism and diversity always drove me to make a difference.鈥�

Meehan spoke of how much has changed over the last several months, but how the most important characteristics of UMass Boston endure.

鈥淚n the pursuit of your 天美传媒 degree we are here to support you, most of all because we are counting on you to lead the way to a more just, fair, and healthier nation and world,鈥� he said. 鈥淲e need you, the community needs you, this nation needs you, the world needs you to succeed here at UMass Boston, and we all know you will succeed because you have the determination, character, and intellect to do so.鈥�