[ ♪♪ ] >> PLATFORM PARTY, PLEASE BE SEATED.

GOOD MORNING AND WELCOME TO FALL CONVOCATION.

I AM THOMAS JEITSCHKO, MICHIGAN STATE UNIVERSITY'S INTERIM PROVOST AND EXECUTIVE VICE-PRESIDENT FOR ACADEMIC AFFAIRS AND THE HOST FOR THIS MORNING'S CONVOCATION.

I AM DELIGHTED TO WELCOME ALL OF YOU TO YOUR NEW ACADEMIC HOME, MICHIGAN STATE UNIVERSITY!

[ Cheering and Applause ] DURING YOUR TIME HERE AT MSU, YOU WILL LEARN FROM A DIVERSE GROUP OF EDUCATORS WHO ARE ALSO SCHOLARS THAT FOSTER DISCOVERY AND INNOVATION IN WAYS THAT ADVANCE KNOWLEDGE AND TRANSFORM LIVES.

THEIR DRIVE AND DEDICATION IS WHAT CONTINUES TO PROPEL MICHIGAN STATE UNIVERSITY FORWARD AND UPWARD TO REACH NEW AND EVER-GREATER HEIGHTS.

MSU IS RISING, AND WE ARE DELIGHTED TO FORMALLY WELCOME YOU TO THE UNIVERSITY AND OUR COMMUNITY OF SCHOLARS, WHICH YOU JOIN TODAY ON OUR BEAUTIFUL EAST LANSING CAMPUS.

SO LET'S GET STARTED.

PLEASE JOIN ME IN WELCOMING Dr. EMILY SORROCHE, ASSOCIATE DIRECTOR IN THE COLLEGE OF AGRICULTURE AND NATURAL RESOURCES' OFFICE OF DIVERSITY, EQUITY AND INCLUSION, WHO WILL OFFER A LAND ACKNOWLEDGEMENT AS WE BEGIN OUR PROGRAM.

[ Applause ] >> GOOD MORNING, SPAR TANS.

MY NAME IS EMILY SORROCHE.

I AM A MEMBER OF THE HAUDENOSAUNEE NATION, CAYUGA TRIBE, WHICH IS LOCATED IN UPSTATE NEW YORK.

I WAS INVITED TODAY TO ACKNOWLEDGE THE LAND MSU AND WE ARE STANDING ON.

TO RECOGNIZE THE LAND IS AN EXPRESSION OF GRATITUDE AND APPRECIATION TO THOSE WHOSE TERRITORY YOU RESIDE ON, AND A WAY OF HONOURING THE INDIGENOUS PEOPLE WHO HAVE HAVE BEEN LIVING AND WORKING ON THE LAND FROM TIME IMMEMORIAL.

IT IS IMPORTANT TO UNDERSTAND THE LONG STANDING HISTORY THAT HAS BROUGHT YOU TO RESIDE ON THIS LAND AND TO SEEK TO UNDERSTAND YOUR PLACE WITHIN THAT HISTORY.

LAND ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS DO NOT EXIST IN A PAST TENSE OR AN HISTORICAL CONTEXT.

COLONIALISM IS A CURRENT ONGOING PROCESS AND WE NEED TO BUILD OUR MINDFULNESS AROUND PRESENT PARTICIPATION.

IT IS ALSO WORTH NOTING THAT ACKNOWLEDGING THE LAND IS INDIGENOUS PROTOCOL.

I ENCOURAGE YOU TO PARTICIPATE IN UNDERSTANDING THE STATEMENT AND JOIN ME IN ALSO LEADING THE LAND ACKNOWLEDGEMENT IN ANY EFFORT YOU ARE INVOLVED IN.

I ACKNOWLEDGE THAT MICHIGAN STATE UNIVERSITY OCCUPIES THE ANCESTRAL, TRADITIONAL AND CONTEMPORARY LANDS OF THE ANISHINAABEG, THREE FIRES CONFEDERACY OF OJIBWA, ODAWA AND POT WHAM MI PEOPLES.

I RECOGNIZE, SUPPORT AND ADVOCATE FOR THE SOVEREIGNTY OF MICHIGAN'S TWELVE FEDERALLY RECOGNIZED AND HISTORIC NATIVE AMERICAN COMMUNITIES IN MICHIGAN FOR INDIGENOUS INDIVIDUALS AND COMMUNITIES WHO HIV HERE NOW AND FOR THOSE WHO WERE FORCIBLY REMOVED FROM THEIR HOMELANDS.

BY OFFERING THIS LAND ACKNOWLEDGEMENT, I AM AFFIRMING INDIGENOUS SOVEREIGNTY AND I WILL WORK TO HOLD MICHIGAN STATE UNIVERSITY MORE ACCOUNTABLE TO THE NEEDS OF AMERICAN INDIAN AND INDIGENOUS STUDENTS.

NYAWEH OR THANK YOU IN MY LANGUAGE.

[ Applause ] .

>> THANK YOU, Dr. SORROCHE.

I WOULD NOW LIKE TO INTRODUCE THE MEMBERS OF THE PLATFORM PARTY.

FIRST, SENIOR VICE-PRESIDENT VENNIE GORE, WHO HEADS UP THE EXTRAORDINARY TEAM IN STUDENT LIFE AND ENGAGEMENT.

THE WORK THAT HE AND HIS TEAM PROVIDE DAILY, 24/7, SUPPORTS STUDENT SUCCESS AND ENGAGEMENT IN COUNTLESS WAYS AND I AM GRATEFUL FOR THEIR MANY CONTRIBUTIONS.

[ Applause ] NEXT, DIRECTOR OF ADMISSIONS, JOHN AMBROSE, WHOSE OUTSTANDING TEAM MEMBERS IN THE OFFICE OF ADMISSIONS WERE LIKELY AMONG THE FIRST MSU REPRESENTATIVES YOU MET.

THE WORK THAT HE AND THE ENTIRE ADMISSIONS TEAM HAVE UNDERTAKEN TO BRING YOU, OUR NEWEST INCOMING CLASS OF STUDENTS, TO THIS DAY IS PRAISEWORTHY AND I'M GRATEFUL FOR ALL THAT JOHN AND HIS TEAM DO IN SUPPORT OF STUDENT SUCCESS HERE AT MSU.

[ Applause ] AND NOW I WOULD LIKE TO TURN TO THE WELCOMES IN OUR DEANS AND THE CHAIRPERSON OF THE FACULTY SENATE.

FROM THE COLLEGE OF AGRICULTURE AND NATURAL RESOURCES, INTERIM DEAN KELLY MILLENBAH.

[ Applause ] FROM THE COLLEGE OF STARTED WITH A COLLEGE OF AGRICULTURE AND NATURAL RESOURCES WHICH WAS MSU'S FIRST AND FOUNDING COLLEGE AND THAT HISTORY CONTINUES TODAY WITH ALL OF YOU.

I AM SO HAPPY TO WELCOME THE CLASS OF 2027 TO CAMPUS.

I KNOW THAT YOU WILL GO ON TO FEED THE WORLD, WORK FOR HEALTHIER, NATURAL ECOSYSTEMS AND BUILD TOMORROW'S SUSTAINABLE COMMUNITIES.

GO, GREEN!

>> GO WHITE!

FROM THE COLLEGE OF ARTS AND LETTERS, ASSOCIATE DEAN BILL HART-DAVIDSON.

[ Applause ] >> GOOD MORNING, SPARTANS.

ON BEHALF OF MY COLLEAGUES AT THE COLLEGE OF ARTS AND LETTERS, IT IS MY HONOR TO WELCOME YOU ALL TO MICHIGAN STATE UNIVERSITY.

THE COLLEGE OF ARTS AND LETTERS IS THE HOME OF CREATIVITY AND OF INSPIRATION ON CAMPUS AND WE HOPE TO TOUCH ALL OF YOU IN ONE OF OUR MANY OPTIONS THAT YOU CAN HAVE FOR THE CAMPUS TODAY.

WE HOPE THAT IT'S A GREAT YEAR AND WE'RE THRILLED TO SEE YOU.

>> THANK YOU, BILL.

[ Applause ] FROM THE COLLEGE OF COMMUNICATIONS ARTS AND SCIENCES, INTERIM DEAN THERESA MASTIN.

>> GOOD MORNING.

[ Applause ] WELCOME ONE AND ALL TO THE COLLEGE OF COMMUNICATION ARTS AND SCIENCES, WHICH IS ACTUALLY THE FIRST COLLEGE OF COMMUNICATION IN THE COUNTRY.

68 YEARS AND STILL INNOVATING.

TO OUR DECLARED MAJORS, GAME ON.

TO THOSE OF YOU WHO ARE LOOKING FOR A COURSE OR TWO THAT WILL HELP YOU NO MATTER WHAT YOUR MAJOR IS, FOR EXAMPLE, PERSONAL BRANDING, RELATIONSHIPS 101, CHECK US OUT.

[ Applause ] >> THANK YOU, TERESA.

FROM THE COLLEGE OF EDUCATION, DEAN JERLANDO F. L. JACKSON.

[ Applause ] >> FOR MORE THAN 100 YEARS THE COLLEGE OF EDUCATION HAS BEEN RECOGNIZED AMONG THE BEST OF THOSE WHO LEAD CHANGE IN EDUCATION, HEALTH AND WELL-BEING FOR ALL.

WE HAVE TEN PROGRAMS RANKED IN THE TOP 25 IN THE U.S.

ACCORDING TO TWO NATIONALLY PROMINENT ORGANIZATIONS, EIGHT ARE IN THE TOP TEN, SIX ARE IN THE TOP FIVE WITH THREE BEING RANKED NUMBER ONE.

WE ARE PROUD TO WELCOME YOU ON OUR ESTEEMED -- BY OUR ESTEEMED COLLEGE AND I WELCOME TO YOUR NEW HOME, MSU.

GO GREEN.

>> GO WHITE!

[ Applause ] >> FROM THE ELI BROAD COLLEGE OF BUSINESS, INTERIM DEAN, JUDITH WHIPPLE.

>> ON BEHALF OF THE BROAD COLLEGE OF BUSINESS, ONE OF THE TOP RANKED BUSINESS COLLEGES IN THE COUNTRY, I WELCOME YOU TO MICHIGAN STATE UNIVERSITY.

BROAD COLLEGE IS HOME TO OVER 80,000 ALUMNI AROUND THE WORLD AND WE CREATE GLOBAL TRANSFORMATIONAL LEADERS TO POSITIVELY IMPACT THE ORGANIZATIONS AND SOCIETY AROUND THEM.

TOGETHER, WE WILL INSPIRE THE FUTURE OF BUSINESS.

GO, GREEN.

>> GO WHITE.

[ Applause ] >> FROM THE COLLEGE OF ENGINEERING, SENIOR ASSOCIATE DEAN THOMAS VOICE.

>> ON BEHALF OF THE COLLEGE OF ENGINEERING, I AM EXTREMELY PLEASED TO WELCOME THIS CLASS OF INCOMING FUTURE SPARTAN ENGINEERS WHO WILL DRIVE THE FUTURE OF TECH LOGICAL AND ECONOMIC IN MICHIGAN, THE GREAT LAKES REGION AND BEYOND.

[ Applause ] >> THANK YOU, TOM.

FROM THE HONORS COLLEGE, ASSISTANT DEAN BESS GERMAN.

>> GOOD MORNING AND WELCOME.

ON BEHALF OF THE HONORS COLLEGE TO THE OVER 650 OF YOU IN THE HONORS COLLEGE AND 200 IN THE ACADEMIC SCHOLARS PROGRAM.

WE CAN'T WAIT TO SEE THE WAY THAT YOU AND ANY OF THOSE WHO INSPIRE TO JOIN YOU IN THE HONORS COLLEGE WILL ENRICH OUR COMMUNITY, IMAGINE AND CREATE A MORE JUST AND BEAUTIFUL FUTURE AND RISE TO THE OPPORTUNITIES BEFORE YOU.

IF GREEN.

GO GREEN.

>> GO WHITE.

THANK YOU, BESS.

FROM HUMAN MEDICINE, DEAN ARON SOUSA.

>> WELCOME TO MSU, THE STATE UNIVERSITY OF MICHIGAN.

THE COLLEGE OF HUMAN MEDICINE WORKS ON THE BIGGEST SCIENTIFIC AND SOCIAL CHALLENGES TO PEOPLE'S HEALTH WHETHER THAT IS HOW TO PROVIDE THE BEST TECHNICAL CARE TO EVERY PATIENT EVERY DAY OR HOW WE IMPROVE PUBLIC HEALTH AND HEALTH EQUITY ACROSS THE STATE AND THE WORLD.

>> THANK YOU, DEAN SOUSA.

[ Applause ] FROM INTERNATIONAL STUDIES AND PROGRAMS, ASSOCIATE DEAN ROB GLEW.

>> GOOD MORNING.

ON BEHALF OF THE OFFICE OF THE VICE PROVOST AND DEAN OF INTERNATIONAL STUDIES AND PROGRAMS, IT'S MY PLEASURE TO WELCOME YOU TO MICHIGAN STATE UNIVERSITY.

A GLOBALLY RANKED TOP 100 UNIVERSITY IN THE WORLD.

IN INTERNATIONAL STUDIES AND PROGRAMS, MUCH OF OUR WORK REVOLVES AROUND CREATING AND PROMOTING GLOBAL LEARNING OPPORTUNITIES FOR ALL SPARTANS ACROSS CAMPUS AND FINALLY, GO GREEN, GO WHITE AND GO GLOBAL.

>> ALL RIGHT!

THANK YOU, ROB.

FROM JAMES MADISON COLLEGE, ASSOCIATE DEAN ROBERT BRATHWAITE.

>> WELCOME, NEW SPARTANS, AND ESPECIALLY WARM WELCOME TO THE MADISONIANS OF THE CLASS OF 2027.

ON BEHALF OF JAMES MA MOD SON COLLEGE, WHERE WE STRIVE TO BE INTELLECTUALLY RIGOROUS AND COMMUNITY ORIENTED GLOBAL CITIZENS, IT'S MY PLEASURE TO WISH FOR YOU A SUCCESSFUL AND FULFILLING ACADEMIC YEAR.

THANK YOU.

[ Applause ] >> THANK YOU, ROBERT.

FROM THE COLLEGE OF LAW, DEAN LINDA SHERYL GREENE.

>> HELLO.

WELCOME.

AT THE COLLEGE OF LAW AT MICHIGAN STATE UNIVERSITY, WE ARE BUILDING A NEW GENERATION OF LAWYERS AND LEADERS WHO WILL SERVE DIVERSE COMMUNITIES IN MICHIGAN AND BEYOND.

THE COLLEGE OF LAW IS INTERESTED IN STUDENTS FROM ALL MAJORS FROM POETS TO PHYSICISTS BECAUSE THE HUMAN NEEDS SPAN ALL THE DISCIPLINES, SO VISIT US ON SOCIAL MEDIA AND TAKE THE TIME TO VISIT US AND WHEN THE TIME IS RIGHT, WHEN YOU'RE THINKING ABOUT GRADUATION, THINK ABOUT MICHIGAN STATE UNIVERSITY COLLEGE OF LAW.

>> THANK YOU, LINDA.

FROM LYMAN BRIGGS COLLEGE, DEAN KENDRA SPENCE CHURUVELII.

>> WHERE ARE MY GREENS OUT THERE?

IT IS GOING TO BE AN AWESOME YEAR, BRIGGSIES.

WELCOME TO THE COLLEGE.

I HOPE YOU'RE EXCITED TO ENJOY YOUR CLASSES, GET TO KNOW YOUR PROFESSORS, GET TO KNOW YOUR ADVISERS AND YOUR PEER MENTORS.

WE'RE ALL HERE FOR YOU THIS YEAR.

THIS IS GOING TO BE AN AMAZING, AMAZING YEAR.

WE, THE FACULTY, THE STAFF, THE ADVISERS IN THE COLLEGE ARE EXCITED TO GET TO KNOW YOU AND TO SEE HOW YOU TRANSFORM WHAT IT MEANS TO BE A SCIENTIST.

>> THANK YOU, KENDRA.

[ Applause ] FROM THE COLLEGE OF MUSIC, DEAN JAMES FORGER.

>> GOOD MORNING, ALL.

ON BEHALF OF THE STUDENTS, THE STAFF AND THE FACULTY OF THE COLLEGE OF MUSIC, HOME OF THE SPARTAN MARCHING BAND AND THE BEST BLUES-BASED PROGRAM IN THE UNITED STATES, I EXTEND A JOYFUL WELCOME TO YOU.

PLEASE COME AND JOIN US FOR ANY OF THE HUNDREDS OF COLLEGE CONCERTS OF ALL SORTS WHICH ARE FREE AND OPEN TO ALL MSU STUDENTS OR BETTER YET, JOIN US FOR YOUR OWN MUSIC MAKING IN ANY NUMBER OF ENSEMBLES AND COMBOS THAT WOULD WELCOME YOUR PARTICIPATION.

CONGRATULATIONS AND WELCOME, CLASS OF 2027.

GO GREEN!

>> Announcer: GO WHITE!

THANK YOU, JIM.

FROM THE COLLEGE OF NATURAL SCIENCE, DEAN PHILIP DUXBURY.

>> WELCOME, STUDENTS.

ITS GREAT TO SEE YOU HERE, ESPECIALLY WELCOME SCIENTIST AND IS MATHEMATICIANS.

OUR COMMUNITY EXPLORES FUNDAMENTAL QUESTIONS ABOUT HOW LIFE, OUR PLANET AND THE UNIVERSE WORKS AS WELL AS DOING FUNDAMENTAL RESEARCH, A LOT OF OUR RESEARCH FOCUSES ON SOLVING PROBLEMS AND INNOVATING IN THE ECONOMY.

ONE MAJOR INNOVATION THAT HAPPENED IN OUR COLLEGE SOME FORTY YEARS AGO IS THE DISCOVERY OF ONE OF THE MAJOR CANCER DRUGS STILL USED TODAY.

IT'S CALLED SISPLATEN.

YOU'LL SEE IT'S CURED MILLIONS OF PEOPLE.

THIS IS YOUR CHANCE TO EXPLORE, TO DISCOVER AND JOIN THE GRAND CHALLENGE OF FIGURING OUT HOW THE UNIVERSE WORKS.

WELCOME AGAIN.

[ Applause ] >> THANK YOU, PHIL.

FROM THE COLLEGE OF NURSING, INTERIM DEAN LE THE I I GH SMALL.

>> GOOD MORNING.

I HOPE THAT EACH OF YOU LOOKS FORWARD TO ENGAGING WITH BEING A NURSE.

NURSES ARE FOR THE 20TH YEAR IN A ROW, RANKED THE MOST TRUSTED PROFESSION IN THE UNITED STATES.

NURSES HELP PEOPLE GO THROUGH THE MOST PERSONAL AND CHALLENGING PASSAGES IN THEIR LIFE.

SO PLEASE COME AND JOIN US.

WE ARE ACTIVELY INVOLVED IN A LOT OF RESEARCH AS WELL AS PRACTISE AND WE LOOK FORWARD TO HAVING YOU JOIN US.

THANK YOU.

[ Applause ] >> THANK YOU.

FROM OSTEOPATHIC MEDICINE, DEAN ANDREA AMALFITANO.

>> WELCOME, STUDENTS.

I'M ALUMNI FROM MICHIGAN STATE FROM UNDERGRADUATE AND MY GRADUATE CONSTITUTES IN THE COLLEGE OF OSTEOPATHIC MEDICINE.

WE'VE BEEN A MEDICAL SCHOOL FOR OVER FIFTY YEARS AT MICHIGAN STATE AND LIKELY ONE OF OUR GRADUATES TOOK CARE OF YOU OR A FAMILY MEMBER IN THE STATE OF MICHIGAN.

IF YOU ASPIRE TO BE A PHYSICIAN, COME BY AND CHECK US OUT.

OUR HEADQUARTERS ARE RIGHT HERE ON THE EAST LANSING CAMPUS AND GOOD LUCK WITH EVERYTHING AND GO GREEN.

>> GO WHITE.

FROM THE RESIDENTIAL COLLEGE IN THE ARTS AND HUMANITIES, INTERIM DEAN GLENN CHAMBERS.

>> GOOD MORNING.

WELCOME FROM THE CREATIVE, INNOVATIVE AND STUDENT-CENTERED COLLEGE GUIDED BY PEOPLE, PASSION, PURPOSE AND THE ARTS.

THE RESIDENTIAL COLLEGE IN THE ARTS AND HUMANITIES IS A ONE KIND RESIDENTIAL COMMUNITY THAT OFFERS ALL THE UNIQUE AND PERSONALIZED BENEFITS OF A SMALL COLLEGE WITH THE ADDED BONUS OF THE MANY OPPORTUNITIES THAT ARE AVAILABLE TO ALL OF MICHIGAN STATE UNIVERSITY AND THE LARGER COMMUNITY.

THANK YOU AND WELCOME.

>> THANK YOU, GLENN.

FROM THE COLLEGE OF SOCIAL SCIENCE, DEAN BRENT DONNELLAN.

>> WHERE ARE ALL THE STUDENTS OF SOCIAL SCIENCES?

WELCOME.

WE ARE THRILLED TO WELCOME YOU TO THE SPARTAN FAMILY.

IT'S GOING TO BE A PHENOMENAL YEAR.

>> FROM THE COLLEGE OF VETERINARY MEDICINE, INTERIM DEAN DOUGLAS FREEMAN.

>> GOOD MORNING, EVERYONE.

WELCOME.

OUR COLLEGE IS HOME TO BOTH DOCTOR OF VETERINARY MEDICINE PROGRAM AND THE VETERINARY NURSING PROGRAM WHERE OUR STUDENTS GRADUATE AND WORK AS TEAMS TO PROMOTE ANIMAL, HUMAN AND ENVIRONMENTAL HEALTH.

WE MAY BE THE ONLY COLLEGE WHERE YOU'LL POSSIBLY FIND PUPPIES OR GOATS OR JUST ABOUT ANYTHING ELSE.

>> THANK YOU, DOUG.

FROM MSU LIBRARIES, INTERIM DEAN TERRI MILLER.

>> HI SPARTANS.

AS INTERIM DEAN OF THE LIBRARIES, I WELCOME ALL OF YOU TO MSU AND TO THE LIBRARIES, THE HEART OF THE UNIVERSITY AND THE MOST WELCOMING AND INCLUSIVE SPACE ON CAMPUS.

WE HOPE THAT YOU FIND MANY OPPORTUNITIES TO VISIT OUR SPACES BOTH IN PERSON AND VIRTUALLY TO TAKE ADVANTAGE OF THE EXTRAORDINARY RESOURCES AVAILABLE TO YOU FROM ONE OF THE TOP RESEARCH LIBRARIES IN THE NATION.

GO GREEN.

>> THANK YOU MUCH.

GO WHITE.

FROM GRADUATE STUDIES, DEAN PERO DAGBOVIE.

>> GOOD MORNING, FELLOW SPARTANS.

WELCOME TO MICHIGAN STATE UNIVERSITY.

GRADUATE EDUCATION HERE AT THIS UNIVERSITY IS CENTRAL TO OUR TEACHING AND RESEARCH MISSION.

IF YOU HAVE INTEREST IN THE FUTURE IN PURSUING GRADUATE EDUCATION, PLEASE DON'T HESITATE TO STOP BY.

THANK YOU AND WELCOME AGAIN.

>> THANK YOU, PERO.

FROM UNDERGRADUATE STUDIES, DEAN MARK LARGENT.

>> GOOD MORNING, SPARTANS.

WELCOME TO CAMPUS.

THERE'S A LOT OF COLLEGES HERE, AREN'T THERE?

THE LAST ONE ON OUR LIST, WE ARE HOME TO ALL OF YOU WHO ARE HERE AS AN EXPLORATORY MAJOR AND A PATHWAYS PROGRAMS LIKE TRIO AND CAMP AND DETROIT MAIN AND THE FIRST GENERATION PROGRAM.

WE'RE HOME TO ONE OF THE NATION'S HIGHEST RANKED ARMY AND AIR FORCE PROGRAMS AND WE HOST ALL THE UNIVERSITY ADVISERS WHO ARE THERE TO HELP YOU FIND AND DEVELOP YOUR PURPOSES AND YOUR PASSIONS TO BRING YOUR MISSION TO YOUR MAJOR.

WELCOME TO CAMPUS, FOLKS.

GO GREEN.

>> GO WHITE.

NOW LET ME INTRODUCE TO YOU THE CHAIRPERSON OF THE FACULTY SENATE, Dr. JACK LIPTON, WHO REPRESENTS OUR REMARKABLE FACULTY.

>> I'M REPRESENTING THE NEARLY 6,000 MEMBERS OF THE FACULTY.

I ALSO HAVE THE OPPORTUNITY AS THE CHAIR OF THE FACULTY SENATE TO WIELD THAT COOL MACE IN FRONT OF YOU WHICH REPRESENTS THE AUTHORITY OF THE FACULTY.

WITH YOU AND THROUGH YOU, WE WILL PROTECT, PRESERVE AND STRENGTHEN THIS GREAT INSTITUTION.

WE WELCOME YOU ON YOUR JOURNEY.

>> THANK YOU SO MUCH, JACK.

AND THANK YOU TO ALL OF OUR FACULTY.

[ Applause ] MANY THANKS TO ALL OF YOU FOR YOUR WARM WELCOMES AND FOR SHARING HIGHLIGHTS ABOUT OUR COLLEGES AND YOUR AREAS AS WELL AS THEIR COMMITMENT TO ACADEMIC EXCELLENCE AND STUDENT SUCCESS.

THE COMMITMENT WILL PROVIDE YOU, OUR INCOMING CLASS OF STUDENTS, WITH A SOUND ACADEMIC FOUNDATION TO HELP YOU MOVE FROM MAJOR TO MISSION FOSTERING YOUR INTELLECTUAL, PROFESSIONAL AND PERSONAL GROWTH DURING YOUR STUDIES.

TODAY'S FALL CONVOCATION EVENT AND THE MANY ADDITIONAL EVENTS LEADING UP TO THE START OF CLASSES ON MONDAY ARE INTENDED TO HELP ORIENT YOU TO LIFE AT MSU, TO HELP YOU GAIN CONFIDENCE AS YOU NAVIGATE THE UNIVERSITY AND TO WELCOME YOU TO OUR COMMUNITY OF SCHOLARS.

WE ARE HERE TO HELP YOU FIND YOUR WAY BOTH LITERALLY AROUND CAMPUS AND ACADEMICALLY, AS OUR NEWEST GROUP OF SCHOLARS.

YOU MAY REMEMBER THAT DURING THE RECRUITMENT AND ADMISSIONS PROCESS, WE ASK EVERY PROSPECTIVE MSU STUDENT TO THINK NOT JUST ABOUT SELECTING YOUR MAJOR BUT TO THINK ABOUT YOUR MISSION.

MISSION BEGINS TODAY.

DURING YOUR TIME AT MSU, YOU WILL BE CHALLENGED TO THINK, TO EXPLORE, TO CREATE, TO LEARN AND TO EXPAND YOUR WAYS OF KNOWING AND UNDERSTANDING.

AS YOU ENGAGE ACROSS THE BREADTH AND DEPTH OF THIS WORLD-CLASS AND WORLD-LEADING UNIVERSITY, YOU WILL EXPERIENCE OPPORTUNITIES THAT ARE NOT AVAILABLE AT OTHER INSTITUTIONS OF HIGHER EDUCATION.

HERE AT MSU, YOU WILL HAVE THE OPPORTUNITY TO ENGAGE WITH EDUCATORS LEADING THE ADVANCEMENT OF KNOWLEDGE IN THEIR MANY RESPECTIVE FIELDS OF STUDY AS WELL AS WITH LEADERS IN ENTREPRENEURSHIP AND INNOVATION.

DEVELOPING A MIND-SET THAT UNDERSTANDS RISK AND CREATES NEW OPPORTUNITIES IS ONE OF THE WAYS MSU WILL HELP PREPARE YOU FOR THE FUTURE.

WE'RE ALSO DEEPENING OUR COMMITMENT TO ETHICS AND HONOR IN A WAY THAT FOSTERS THE CULTURE AND COMMUNITY WHOSE ACTIONS ALIGN WITH OUR VALUES.

THROUGH THIS SPECIAL AND DISTINCTIVE MSU EDUCATION, YOU WILL LEARN TO BE BOTH A QUANTITATIVE THINKER AND TO BE CREATIVE AND APPRECIATE CREATIVITY.

WITH THE ARTS INTEGRATED INTO OUR CURRICULUM, OUR COMMUNITY AND OUR CULTURE.

BY THE TIME YOU RETURN HERE TO BRESLIN CENTER, YOUR COMMENCEMENT CEREMONY, YOU WILL BE ABLE TO EXPAND YOUR INTELLECTUAL GOALS SO YOUR XAFS HAVE EXTENDED FROM MAJOR TO MISSION.

A MISSION THAT WILL CONTINUE TO GUIDE YOUR FUTURE WELL BEYOND GRADUATION.

AS YOU CAN SEE, ALL OF US IN THE PLATFORM PARTY ARE WEARING OUR ACADEMIC REGALIA THIS MORNING.

THE MARKERS AND COLORS OF OUR UNIVERSITY ROBES AND HOODS COMMUNICATE INFORMATION ABOUT OUR SCHOLARLY ACCOMPLISHMENTS AND THE INSTITUTIONS FROM WHICH WE EARNED OUR DEGREES.

TODAY'S CONVOCATION MARKS A CORNERSTONE OF YOUR TIME HERE AT MSU, THE FIRST STEP ON A NEW PATH FOR EACH OF YOU.

WHEN YOU RETURN HERE TO BRESLIN CENTER FOR YOUR COMMENCEMENT CEREMONY, AND I EXPECT YOU TO RETURN, YOU TOO WILL WEAR ACADEMIC REGALIA, CAP AND GOWN.

ON THAT CAPSTONE DAY, YOU WILL BE EMBARKING ON YET ANOTHER NEW PATH.

YOU WILL BE READY FOR THE WORLD AND ALL OF ITS CHALLENGES AND OPPORTUNITIES THAT SO URGENTLY NEED YOU AND YOUR MSU EDUCATION.

AMONG MY STRONGEST-HELD CONVICTIONS AS PROVOST IS THE BELIEF THEY'RE STUDENT ADMITTED TO MSU CAN AND WILL GRADUATE.

EVERY ONE OF YOU IS WORTHY AND CAPABLE.

EVERY ONE OF YOU IS WELCOME AND VALUED.

I HOPE EACH OF YOU DISCOVER YOUR PERSONAL BEST AND SENSE OF PURPOSE AND MISSION DURING YOUR TIME HERE AT MICHIGAN STATE UNIVERSITY.

[ Applause ] IT IS NOW MY PLEASURE TO INTRODUCE MSU'S INTERIM PRESIDENT, Dr. TERESA K. WOODRUFF.

[ Applause ] SHE HAS PROVIDED LEADERSHIP AND VISION FOR THE UNIVERSITY SINCE HER ARRIVAL HERE AS PROVOST IN 2020 AND SHE CONTINUES TO ADVANCE OUR MISSION IN WAYS THAT SET THE UNIVERSITY APART AND ABOVE.

SHE HAS SERVED THE UNIVERSITY AS PRESIDENT SINCE NOVEMBER 2022, LEADING AND ADVANCING MSU'S STRATEGIC PRIORITIES OF STUDENT, FACULTY AND STAFF SUCCESS, RESEARCH AND INNOVATION, SUSTAINABLE HEALTH, FINANCIAL STEWARDSHIP AND ENVIRONMENTAL SUSTAINABILITY AND CAMPUS DIVERSITY AND SAFETY.

PLEASE JOIN ME IN WELCOMING MSU PRESIDENT TERESA K. WOODRUFF.

[ Applause ] >> THANK YOU, PROVOST JEITSCHKO.

AND WELCOME, CLASS OF 2027!

[ Cheering and Applause ] I HOPE YOU'VE ALL HAD A GREAT SUMMER.

I KNOW FOR MANY, IT'S BEEN A SUMMER OF ERAS AND RENAISSANCE CONCERT TOURS AND FOR SOME OF YOU, COOKOUTS AND CAMPOUTS AND TRYOUTS, AND OF SUMMER JOBS AND OF TRIPS UP NORTH AND PREPARING FOR THIS, YOUR FIRST COLLEGE FALL SEMESTER.

ITS WONDERFUL TO BE WITH ALL OF YOU TODAY AND I'VE ENJOYED MEETING MANY OF YOU ALREADY, INCLUDING WALKING INTO THIS GREAT BRESLIN CENTER AND I LOOK FORWARD TO MEETING EVERY SINGLE ONE OF YOU THROUGHOUT THIS COMING YEAR.

I HOPE YOU'RE AS EXCITED AS I AM FOR THE YEAR AHEAD.

AND NOW, FOR MY FAVORITE PART OF THE CONVOCATION.

I ASK ALL OF YOU TO STAND AS YOU ARE ABLE.

OKAY.

THIS IS THE PART WHERE I INDUCT YOU AS MSU SPARTANS.

ARE YOU READY?

[ Cheering ] AS INTERIM PRESIDENT OF MICHIGAN STATE UNIVERSITY, I EXTEND MY WARMEST WELCOME AND OFFICIALLY INDUCT YOU INTO MSU'S COMMUNITY OF SCHOLARS WITH ALL OF THE RIGHTS AND RESPONSIBILITIES THIS PRIVILEGE CONIFERS.

MAY THE COMING YEARS GRANT YOU ACADEMIC CHALLENGES THAT FIRE YOUR IMAGINATION AND EXPERIENCES THAT ELEVATE YOUR SPIRIT.

MAY YOU KNOW SUCCESS AND CELEBRATE YOUR FELLOW SPARTANS IN EVERY FIELD OF ENDEAVOUR.

MAY EACH OF YOU THRIVE HERE ON THE BANKS OF THE RED CEDAR RIVER AND EMBRACE THE EXPERIENCES MSU HAS TO OFFER.

CONGRATULATIONS.

YOU ARE SPARTANS!

[ Cheering and Applause ] NOW I CAN FORMALLY SAY THIS: SPARTANS, GO FORTH.

GO ENGAGE.

AND GO GREEN!

>> Crowd: GO WHITE!

>> YOU MAY BE SEATED.

CONGRATULATIONS.

NOW NEW SPARTANS, IT'S MY PLEASURE TO INTRODUCE TWO STUDENT LEADERS.

FIRST WE WILL HEAR FROM SOMEONE WITH WHOM I CONSULT REGULARLY EMILY HOYUMPA, PRESIDENT OF THE ASSOCIATED STUDENTS OF MSU.

AND NEXT, WE WILL HEAR FROM THE LEADER OF ANOTHER IMPORTANT STUDENT GROUP, AS WE CELEBRATE OUR 150th ANNIVERSARY OF OUR FIRST ENROLLED INTERNATIONAL STUDENT.

ROCHISSHIL VARMA, PRESIDENT OF THE INTERNATIONAL STUDENTS' ASSOCIATION.

JOIN ME IN WELCOMING ASMU PRESIDENT EMILY HOYUMPA!

[ Applause ] >> WELCOME HOME, SPARTANS!

AS MENTION THE, MY NAME IS EMILY HOYUMPA AND I'M A THIRD YEAR STUDENT IN THE JAMES MADISON COLLEGE.

ALL MADISONIANS, I SEE YOU.

I'M HONORED TO BE THE MSU UNDERGRADUATE STUDENT BODY PRESIDENT AND OFFICIALLY WELCOME YOU TO BEGIN YOUR COLLEGE JOURNEY.

MSU MAY NOT FEEL LIKE HOME JUST YET BUT GIVE IT TIME AND YOU'LL BE EAGER TO COME BACK TO CAMPUS AFTER EVERY SCHOOL BREAK.

I KNOW FOR A FACT I WAS.

AS I LOOK AT YOU TODAY, I'M SO EXCITED TO SEE HOW YOU'LL MAKE THESE NEXT FEW YEARS MEANINGFUL AND LEAVE YOUR MARK ON MSU.

I KNOW THAT ALL OF YOU ARE GOING TO ENRICH THE SPARTAN COMMUNITY AND THE GENERATIONS OF SPARTANS BEFORE YOU ARE SO EXCITED TO SEE YOU MAKE THIS PLACE YOUR HOME.

I KNOW FIRST HAND HOW INCREDIBLY NERVE-RACKING STARTING NEW ADVENTURE IS, STARTING COLLEGE.

IT WILL BE BEING O.

BUT MICHIGAN STATE HAS LOTS TO OFFER BETWEEN NEW CLASSMATES, GAINING A NEW SENSE OF INDEPENDENCE AND TRYING TO FIND YOURSELF, IT CAN BE OFTEN OVERWHELMING.

I'M NOT GOING TO PRETEND I HAVE EVERYTHING FIGURED OUT AND AS YOU SIT HERE TODAY, I HOPE I CAN OFFER SOME ADVICE.

FIRST EXPECT UNEXPECTED AND MAKE THE MOST OF YOUR COLLEGE JOURNEY.

DON'T BE SCARED TO TRY NEW THINGS AND HAVE NEW EXPERIENCES.

AND IT'S OKAY FOR YOU TO HAVE TO HAVE YOUR LIFE PLANNED OUT BUT ALSO SO ALL RIGHT IF YOU HAVE NO IDEA WHAT YOU'RE GOING TO DO WITH THE FUTURE.

YOU NEVER KNOW WHAT THE FUTURE HOLDS AND THE PUT BUTTE BEAUTY OF COLLEGE IS HAVING THE OPPORTUNITY TO EXPLORE YOUR OPTIONS.

JUST KNOW YOU GOT THIS AND IT'S OKAY TO TAKE TIME.

NEXT, WHILE I SPEAK OF NEW THINGS AND NEW EXPERIENCES, GET OUT OF YOUR COMFORT ZONE AND MEET NEW PEOPLE IN THE FIRST FEW WEEKS OF SCHOOL.

AS AN INTROVERT, I KNOW HOW INCREDIBLY DAUNTING THIS WILL BE.

WHETHER IT'S STUDENT GOVERNMENT, A CLUB SPORT, GREEK LIFE OR ONE OF THE THOUSANDS OF STUDENT ORGANIZATIONS ON CAMPUS, GETTING INVOLVED IS A GREAT WAY TO BECOME TO KNOW YOUR FELLOW SPARTANS.

WE ARE PRIVILEGED TO HAVE STUDENTS TO HAVE DIVERSE BACKGROUNDS.

FOLLOWING THAT, DON'T COMPARE YOURSELF TO YOUR FELLOW SPARTANS BUT RATHER UPLIFT ONE ANOTHER.

YOU'RE NOT GOING TO BECOME BEST FRIENDS TO EVERYONE YOU MEET AND THAT'S OKAY.

BUT ALL OF YOU WILL BE CALLING THIS PLACE HOME FOR YOUR COLLEGE CAREERS.

IT'S IMPORTANT TO BE RESPECTFUL AND OPEN MINDED BUT FIND THE PEOPLE THAT CHALLENGE YOU TO BE THE BEST SPARTAN YOU CAN BE.

THE SPARTAN COMMUNITY IS POWERFUL BECAUSE OF THE DIFFERENT TYPES OF PEOPLE AND NOW MORE THAN EVER, IT'S IMPORTANT TO RESPECT ONE ANOTHER AND INSTEAD OF TEARING EACH OTHER DOWN, BUILD EACH OTHER UP.

IT WON'T ALWAYS BE EASY, BUT AS SPARTANS, WE WILL LAUGH TOGETHER, WE WILL CRY TOGETHER AND JOIN OUR HANDS TO BUILD THIS COMMUNITY FOR FUTURE GENERATIONS AND SPARTANS TO COME.

TAKE TIME TO EXPLORE POSSIBILITIES OF THE FUTURE BUT ALSO TAKE TIME TO DISCOVER HOW SPECIAL IT IS TO BE PART OF A COMMUNITY SUCH AS OURS.

NONE OF YOU WILL EVER BE ALONE.

WE'RE ALL IN THIS TOGETHER AND I CANNOT WAIT TO SEE WHAT YOU WILL ACCOMPLISH HERE AT MSU.

NOW AND ALWAYS, GO GREEN.

>> GO WHITE!

>> PLEASE JOIN ME IN WELCOMING THE ISA PRESIDENT ROCHISSHIL VARMA.

[ Applause ] >> THANK YOU, EMILY.

GOOD MORNING, SPARTANS, STAFF AND RESPECTED FACULTY.

MY NAME IS ROCHISSHIL VARMA.

I HAVE THE HONOR OF SERVING AS THE ISA PRESIDENT THIS YEAR.

TODAY MARKS A TRULY SPECIAL OCCASION AS WE GATHER TO WELCOME THE NEWEST MEMBERS OF THE SPARTAN FAMILY.

I AM A PROUD SPARTAN MYSELF.

THIS YEAR HOLDS EXCEPTIONAL SIGNIFICANCE.

FIRST, WE WELCOME THE LARGEST FIRST-YEAR CLASS IN OUR UNIVERSITY'S HISTORY, WHICH SPEAKS TO THE EVER-GROWING ALLURE OF THE SPARTAN SPIRIT.

SECOND, AND MOST PROFOUNDLY, WE COMMEMORATE 150 YEARS OF INTERNATIONAL STUDENTS AT MICHIGAN STATE UNIVERSITY.

OVER A CENTURY AND A HALF AGO, INTERNATIONAL STUDENTS BEGAN THEIR JOURNEY HERE WHEN CHOICES IN ACADEMIC MAJORS WERE LIMITED.

FAST FORWARD TO 2023, TODAY, MSU BOASTS OVER 400 UNDERGRADUATE, GRADUATE AND CERTIFICATE AREAS OF STUDY ACROSS 17 DEGREE-GRANTING COLLEGES.

OUR GROWTH FROM A HANDFUL OF MAJORS TO SUCH EXPANSIVE ACADEMIC BREADTH TRULY CAPTURES THE ESSENCE OF OUR THEME TODAY: "FROM MAJOR TO MISSION."

EMBARKING ON YOUR SPARTAN JOURNEY, THE MAJOR YOU CHOOSE IS JUST THE START.

IT'S YOUR FIRST STEP IN TRANSLATING PERSONAL INTERESTS INTO A BROADER MISSION OF MAKING AN IMPACT ON THE GLOBAL COMMUNITY.

BEING A SPARTAN IS MORE THAN JUST A TITLE.

IT'S A COMMITMENT TO EXCELLENCE, TO INCLUSION AND TO UNIT.

IT TEACHES YOU TO TAKE PRIDE IN WHO YOU ARE, WHERE YOU COME FROM AND ALWAYS REMEMBER THAT HERE AT MICHIGAN STATE, AMIDST THE GREEN AND WHITE, YOUR INDIVIDUAL TY ADDS TO OUR COLLECTIVE STRENGTH.

HERE'S MY ADVICE FOR YOU: EMBRACE YOUR TIME HERE, LET YOUR MAJOR GUIDE YOU, BUT LET YOUR MISSION DEFINE YOU.

AND REMEMBER: WE'RE NOT JUST HERE TO MAKE HISTORY.

WE'RE HERE TO SHAPE THE FUTURE.

WE ARE SPARTANS.

AND SPARTANS WILL.

THANK YOU AND GO GREEN.

>> GO WHITE.

[ Applause ] >> THE MSU DRUM LINE!

[ Drumming ] [ Cheering and Applause ] [ ♪♪ ] [ Cheering and Applause ] [ ♪♪ ] [ ♪♪ ] [ Cheering and Applause ] >> NEVER FAILS TO AMAZE, NEVER GETS OLD.

INDEED!

HEAR THAT?

THANK YOU SO MUCH TO OUR STUDENT LEADERS FOR THOSE INSPIRING WORDS AND THANK YOU FOR THE MSU SPARTAN MARCHING DRUM BAND LINE FOR A GREAT PERFORMANCE.

[ Applause ] I AM NOW PLEASED TO TURN OUR FOCUS BACK TO THE THEME OF THIS YEAR'S CONVOCATION FROM MAJOR TO MISSION.

THIS THEME REFLECTS THE JOURNEY EACH OF YOU, OUR NEWEST STUDENTS, WILL TAKE UPON YOUR TIME HERE AT MSU.

AS I NOTED IN MY EARLIER REMARKS, MISSION BEGINS TODAY.

SOME OF YOU MAY ALREADY HAVE A STRONG SENSE OF WHAT YOU WANT TO MAJOR IN AND AN EQUALLY STRONG SENSE OF MISSION.

OTHERS OF YOU MAY NOT YET BE SURE WHAT YOU WANT TO MAJOR IN OR EVEN WHAT YOU WANT TO STUDY.

REGARDLESS OF WHERE YOU ARE IN YOUR ACADEMIC JOURNEY, YOU ARE IN THE RIGHT PLACE HERE AT MICHIGAN STATE UNIVERSITY.

YOU BELONG HERE.

OVER THE COURSE OF YOUR STUDIES, YOU WILL EXPLORE A BROAD RANGE OF DISCIPLINES AND AN EQUALLY BROAD RANGE OF COMPELLING QUESTIONS AND CHALLENGES.

AS YOU STUDY AND LEARN AND GROW, YOU WILL GAIN NOT ONLY A SENSE OF WHAT YOU WANT TO ACHIEVE WITH YOUR MAJOR BUT ALSO A SENSE OF YOUR OWN PERSONAL MISSION WITHIN THAT AREA OF STUDY.

THIS WILL BE ONE OF THE MOST, IF NOT THE MOST, EXCITING JOURNEYS OF YOUR LIFE AND IT WILL TAKE PLACE HERE AT MICHIGAN STATE UNIVERSITY.

OUR FEATURED FACULTY SPEAKER THIS MORNING, Dr. MONA HANNA-ATTISHA, ASSOCIATE DEAN FOR PUBLIC HEALTH AND C. S. MOTT ENDOWED PROFESSOR OF PUBLIC HEALTH AT MICHIGAN STATE UNIVERSITY COLLEGE OF HUMAN MEDICINE, EXEMPLIFIES THE POWERFUL AND POSITIVE IMPACT THAT CAN RESULT FROM MOVING FROM MAJOR TO MISSION AS WELL AS ITS TRANSFORMATIVE POWER TO ADVANCE THE GREATER GOOD.

SHE IS AMONG OUR BEST AND BRIGHTEST FACULTY MEMBERS AT MSU AND WE ARE GRATEFUL FOR HER WILLINGNESS TO BE HERE WITH US THIS MORNING.

INTEREST HANNA-ATTISHA IS THE FOUNDING DIRECTOR OF THE PEDIATRIC PUBLIC HEALTH INITIATIVE, AN INNOVATIVE PARTNERSHIP OF MSU AND HURLEY CHILDREN'S HOSPITAL IN FLINT, MICHIGAN.

A PEDIATRICIAN, SCIENTIST, ACTIVIST AND AUTHOR, Dr. HANNA-ATTISHA WAS NAMED ONE OF "TIME" MAGAZINE'S 100 MOST INFLUENTIAL PEOPLE IN THE WORLD AND RECOGNIZED AS ONE OF "USA TODAY"'S WOMEN OF THE CENTURY FOR HER ROLE IN UNCOVERING THE FLINT WATER CRISIS AND LEADING THE RECOVERY EFFORTS.

SHE HAS TESTIFIED MULTIPLE TIMES BEFORE THE UNITED STATES CONGRESS, LECTURED AT DOZENS OF COLLEGES AND UNIVERSITIES AND FREQUENTLY CONTRIBUTES TO NATIONAL MEDIA OUTLETS CHAMPIONING THE CAUSE OF CHILDREN IN FLINT AND BEYOND.

Dr. HANNA-ATTISHA IS THE AUTHOR OF THE WIDELY ACCLAIMED AND NEW YORK TIMES 100 MOST NOTABLE BOOK "WHAT THE EYES DON'T SEE: A STORY OF CRISIS, RESISTANCE AND HOPE IN AN AMERICAN CITY."

WITH CONCENTRATIONS IN ENVIRONMENTAL HEALTH AND HEALTH POLICY, SHE RECEIVED HER BACHELOR'S DEGREE AND MASTER OF PUBLIC HEALTH DEGREE FROM THE UNIVERSITY OF MICHIGAN.

SHE COMPLETED HER MEDICAL DEGREE FROM MICHIGAN STATE UNIVERSITY'S COLLEGE OF HUMAN MEDICINE AND HER RESIDENCY AND CHIEF RESIDENCY AT CHILDREN'S HOSPITAL OF MICHIGAN IN DETROIT.

Dr. HANNA-ATTISHA'S JOURNEY REPRESENTS THE KIND OF ACCOMPLISHMENTS YOU CAN ACHIEVE WHEN SHIFTING YOUR FOCUS FROM MAJOR TO MISSION AND HOW MAKING THAT SHIFT CAN CREATE AN ENDURING IMPACT THAT CONTRIBUTES TO TEACHING AND LEARNING, TO RESEARCH AND INNOVATION, AND TO OUTREACH AND ENGAGEMENT- THE HALLMARKS OF MSU'S OWN MISSION.

HER PROFESSIONAL ACCOMPLISHMENTS EXTEND WELL BEYOND THE MSU CAMPUS AND HAVE CONTRIBUTED TO THE GREATER GOOD IN WAYS THAT HAVE, AND CONTINUE TO HAVE, LASTING AND TRANSFORMATIVE IMPACT.

WE ARE HONORED TO HAVE HER WITH US TODAY AND SHARE HER THOUGHTS ABOUT THIS JOURNEY FROM MAJOR TO MISSION.

PLEASE JOIN ME IN WELCOMING Dr. MONA HANNA-ATTISHA.

[ Cheering and Applause ] >> THANK YOU FOR THAT KIND AND LENGTHY INTRODUCTION.

CONGRATULATIONS AND WELCOME SPARTANS.

I AM SO HONORED TO BE HERE WITH YOU TODAY.

YOU ARE THE NEXT TO ENTER THIS ENGINE OF KNOWLEDGE, THIS LIFE CHANGING POWERHOUSE OF LEARNING AND INNOVATION.

WHEN YOU START CLASSES IN A FEW DAYS, YOU WILL ALL OPEN FRESH BOOKS WITH BLANK PAGES.

AND YOU GET TO DECIDE HOW TO FILL THEM.

ALL OF YOU ARE SPARTANS, EVERY SINGLE ONE OF YOU.

AND THAT MEANS SOMETHING.

YOU MADE THE DECISION TO BE A SPARTAN WHEN YOU CAME TO MSU.

YOU GOT THE T-SHIRT.

I SAW ALL YOU LIGHT GREEN PISTACHIO COLORED T-SHIRTS.

YOU LEARNED HOW TO YELL GO GREEN.

>> GO WHITE!

>> BUT STEPPING ONTO CAMPUS AS A FRESHMAN AND CHECKING INTO CASE OR AKERS OR BRODY IS JUST THE BEGINNING.

PICKING A MAJOR IS JUST THE BEGINNING.

YOU ARE CALLED A SPARTAN FROM DAY ONE TODAY BUT IT TAKES TIME TO BECOME A SPARTAN.

AND BECOMING A SPARTAN NEVER STOPS.

IT ISN'T JUST ABOUT WINNING NATIONAL CHAMPIONSHIPS, FALLING IN LOVE WITH THE RED CEDAR OR LEARNING THE TRICK OF CUTTING THROUGH THE LIBRARY WHEN TRAVELLING FROM NORTH TO SOUTH CAMPUS.

AND IT'S NOT JUST ABOUT NUCLEAR PHYSICS OR DEFEATING MALARIA OR FIGHTING FOR CLEAN WATER.

YOU DO NOT ACHIEVE GREATNESS AND WIN CHAMPIONSHIPS AND CHANGE MINDS AND BRING HOPE BY SITTING STILL, BY KEEPING QUIET, BY KEEPING YOUR HAND DOWN.

YOU DO IT BY RAISING YOUR HANDS AND YOUR VOICES, BY WORKING HARD, AND BY STANDING UP FOR WHAT IS RIGHT.

I AM HERE TODAY AS YOUR FACULTY SPEAKER, REPRESENTING THOUSANDS OF BRILLIANT, INSPIRING AND DEDICATED MSU FACULTY, TO WELCOME YOU, AND I'M ALSO HERE TO ASK YOU TO RAISE YOUR HANDS AND MAKE SOME NOISE IT.

LET'S HEAR?

[ Cheering ] LOOK ALL THOSE HANDS!

WOW!

OVER A DOZEN YEARS AGO, WHEN YOU ALL STARTED OUT IN SCHOOL, YOU LEARNED HOW TO RAISE YOUR HANDS.

RIGHT?

BUT LATER, PERHAPS FOR SOME OF YOU IT'S ALREADY HAPPENED, WE LEARNED HOW TO KEEP OUR HANDS DOWN, RIGHT?

WE WAIT OUR TURN.

WE HOLD OUR WORDS UNTIL THE RIGHT MOMENT BECAUSE IT'S OFTEN EASIER TO STAY QUIET.

BUT I AM TELLING YOU: SOMEWHERE, SOMEHOW, SOME TIME IN YOUR LIFE, YOU WILL HAVE A CHOICE.

IT WILL BE AN IMPORTANT CHOICE.

AND I AM ASKING YOU TO RAISE YOUR HAND.

A FEW YEARS AGO, MY MSU RESEARCH TEAM FOUND THAT OUR CHILDREN IN FLINT, MICHIGAN, HAD INCREASED LEAD LEVELS IN THEIR BODIES BECAUSE OUR WATER WAS CHANGED.

DO YOU THINK WE WAITED TO BE CALLED ON, HOPED FOR THE BEST, QUIETED DOWN AND FILED A REPORT?

NO.

OR DO YOU THINK WE RAISED OUR HANDS AND MADE SOME NOISE?

YES!

WE STOOD UP TO THOSE WHO REFUSED TO HEAR, WHO REFUSED TO SEE.

WE STOOD UP FOR CHILDREN.

WE STOOD UP FOR JUSTICE, EQUALITY AND OPPORTUNITY.

AND AT TIMES, IT WAS NOT EASY TO RAISE MY HAND.

I WAS DISMISSED AND ATTACKED.

BUT WE DIDN'T JUST RAISE OUR HANDS.

WE HAD DATA.

WE HAD SCIENCE.

AND WE HAD A POWERFUL STORY BEHIND EVERY NUMBER.

BECAUSE WE SPARTANS KNOW HOW TO DO THAT.

WE ARE SCIENTIST AND IS COMMUNICATORS, EDUCATORS AND LEADERS.

WE ARE HISTORIANS AND ENGINEERS AND ARTIST AND EVERYTHING IN BETWEEN.

WE ARE PASSIONATE AND PERSISTENT, FEARLESS AND WE ARE DRIVEN, NOT BY OUR MAJOR OR WHAT WE WANT TO BE WHEN WE GROW UP BUT WE ARE DRIVEN BY OUR MISSION, A COMMON MISSION THAT CROSSES ALL MAJORS AND DISCIPLINES, TO CREATE A WORLD AS IT SHOULD BE.

NOT THE IMPERFECT PLACE THAT IT IS.

IT WASN'TED WASN'T JUST ME.

LOOK AROUND YOU.

YOU ARE NOT ALONE.

YOU ARE NEVER ALONE.

YOU ARE NOW PART OF A SPARTAN FAMILY.

AND I WANT YOU TO TURN TO YOUR NEIGHBOR AND I WANT YOU TO GIVE THAT SPARTAN SIBLING A HUG OR A FIST BUMP OR HIGH FIVE OR WHATEVER'S OKAY WITH THEM.

GIVE THEM A HUG.

LEAN IN.

YOU GUYS CAN DO IT TOO.

YES!

SO YOU ARE A FAMILY AND YOU HAVE A VILLAGE COMMITTED TO YOUR WELLNESS AND SUCCESS, A VILLAGE THAT WILL PROTECT YOU AND FIGHT ALONGSIDE.

WITH MY GROWING TEAM, WITH MY GROWING FAMILY, WITH MY HAND IN THE AIR, WITH SO MANY HANDS IN THE AIR, THERE WAS NO WAY TO IGNORE OUR SPARTAN ENERGY AND FINALLY STARTED TO HAPPEN.

SINCE THEN, WE HAVE BEEN AT GROUND ZERO FOR WHAT A COMMUNITY CAN DO TOGETHER, FOR HOW A COMMUNITY CAN CARE FOR EACH OTHER, IF WE RAISE OUR HANDS.

TODAY, SPARTANS ARE LEADING AN EFFORT TO MAKE THE IMPOSSIBLE POSSIBLE, A GRAND CHALLENGE FOR HEALTH EQUITY.

WE ARE LAUNCHING SOMETHING CALLED RX KIDS, A PRESCRIPTION FOR UNIVERSAL CASH ALLOWANCES FOR ALL PREGNANT MOMS AND BABIES IN FLINT.

WE WILL DISRUPT POVERTY IN THE POOREST CITY IN THE STATE AND WE WILL SHARE THAT BOLDNESS ACROSS THE NATION.

WELCOME TO A UNIVERSITY THAT DOESN'T JUST DREAM BIG.

SPARTANS DO BIG.

SPARTANS DON'T JUST RAISE OUR HANDS.

SPARTANS WORK HARD.

SPARTANS LEAD AND SPARTANS INSPIRE.

AND YES, SPARTANS WILL.

LIKE I SAID, SOME DAY, YOU WILL FACE AN IMPORTANT CHOICE.

YOU CAN CHOOSE TO STAY SILENT AND KEEP YOUR HAND BY YOUR SIDE.

YOU CAN DECIDE TO JUST GO WITH THE FLOW.

THAT MIGHT BE THE EASIEST CHOICE FOR YOU, SOCIALLY, ECONOMICALLY, POLITICALLY.

THE ISSUE MAY NOT BE AS MOMENTOUS AS THE POISONING OF A TOWN OR CHILD POVERTY, BUT THERE ARE INJUSTICES EVERYWHERE, MAYBE IN YOUR WORKPLACE, DORM ROOM, YOUR FRIEND GROUP, YOUR CLASSROOM, THERE ARE PEOPLE AND PLACES THAT WILL NEED YOU TO RAISE YOUR HAND.

IN 1967, TWO YEARS AFTER HE VISITED MSU AND EXACTLY ONE YEAR BEFORE HE WAS ASSASSINATED, REVEREND MARTIN LUTHER KING JUNIOR HAD A CHOICE TO MAKE.

HE WAS A DOZEN YEARS INTO STANDING UP AND RAISING HIS HAND IN THE FIGHT FOR CIVIL RIGHTS, BUT HE ALSO BELIEVED THE VIETNAM WAR WAS WRONG.

HE WAS WARNED THAT FIGHTING AGAINST THE VIETNAM WAR WAS ONE STEP TOO FAR, THAT HE WOULD LOSE THE ALLIES HE NEEDED IN THE CIVIL RIGHTS FIGHT.

MLK GAVE A SPEECH WHERE HE SAID HE COULDN'T BE SILENCED ABOUT THE VIETNAM WAR.

HE SAID DISSENT ISN'T DISLOYALTY.

HE SAID "THE HOTTEST PLACES IN HELL ARE RESERVED FOR THOSE OF US WHO, IN A PERIOD OF MORAL CRISIS, MAINTAIN THEIR NEUTRALITY.

REQUESTINGS THINK ABOUT THAT.

20 YEARS AFTER THE GENOCIDE, THE BRUTALITY OF WORLD WAR II, MLK SAID THE HOTTEST PLACES IN HELL ARE NOT FOR MASS MURDERERS OR TYRANTS, BUT FOR THOSE OF US WHO DO NOT RAISE OUR HANDS AND OUR VOICES AGAINST INJUSTICE.

I AM TELLING YOU NOT TO FEAR BEING THE DISSENTER, WHETHER YOU ARE FIGHTING BIG OR SMALL INJUSTICES.

TELL THE OTHER SIDE OF THE STORY.

WEAR THE SHOES OF SOMEONE DIFFERENT THAN YOU.

RAISE YOUR HAND EVEN WHEN IT'S HARD, ESPECIALLY WHEN IT'S HARD.

EVERY TIME YOU DO, YOU WILL GROW AS A PERSON.

YOU GOT THIS!

SOMETIMES HOPE IS THE HARDEST THING TO FIND.

BUT I WANT YOU TO KNOW THAT I AM STANDING HERE IN FRONT OF YOU TODAY, AND I AM INSPIRED AND HOPEFUL.

I SEE DREAMS REALIZED IN THIS NEW BEGINNING.

I SEE THE SPARTANS WILL LEAVE THIS WORLD A BETTER PLACE.

I SEE THE FUTURE IN YOUR FACES EVERYWHERE.

SPARTANS, STAND UP WITH ME.

GET UP THERE.

STAND WITH ME.

SPARTANS WILL STAND UP FOR JUSTICE AGAINST INJUSTICE.

SPARTANS WILL STAND UP FOR LOVE AGAINST HATE.

SPARTANS WILL STAND UP FOR EACH OTHER.

SPARTANS WILL RAISE THEIR HANDS AND MAKE SOME NOISE!

GO GREEN!

[ Cheering ] >> GO WHITE!

>> WELCOME TO MSU!

[ Cheering and Applause ] >> I DON'T KNOW HOW I FOLLOW THAT.

I DON'T KNOW ABOUT YOU, BUT I HAVE A SCRIPT HERE AND IN MY SCRIPT, I'M NOT QUITE SURE HOW TO FOLLOW THAT.

I FEEL LIKE THIS IS GO TIME.

AND IT'S TIME FOR US TO MAKE A DIFFERENCE AND AT THIS TIME, WE HAVE THE PLEASURE OF WELCOMING SPARTAN DISCHORDS.

THEY ARE THE OLDEST MSU ACCAPELLA GROUP THAT TRAVELS THE WORLD AND DOES ABOUT 30 TO 55 PERFORMANCES A SEMESTER.

THIS IS A TIME-HONORED TRADITION, SO I'M GOING TO ASK YOU TO STAND IF YOU CAN, PLEASE.

THIS IS A TIME THAT YOU LEARN YOUR ALMA MATER, SHADOWS, FOLLOWED BY OUR FIGHT SONG.

SO GENTLEMEN.

♪ MSU, WE LOVE THY SHADOWS ♪ ♪ WHEN TWILIGHT SILENCE ♪ FLUSHING DEEP AND SOFTLY PALLING ♪ ♪ OVER IVY COVERED HALLS ♪ ♪ BENEATH THE PINES WE'LL GATHER ♪ ♪ TO GIVE OUR FAITH SO TRUE ♪ ♪ SING OUR LOVE FOR ALMA MATER ♪ ♪ AND THY PRAISES MSU ♪ [ Applause ] ♪ WE CHEER THEM AGAIN ♪ ♪ THE ONLY COLORS ♪ ♪ RARA ♪ ♪ WE ♪ ♪ WE GOTTA WIN THIS GAME ♪ ♪ FIGHT ♪ ♪ FIGHT ♪ ♪ VICTORY FOR MSU ♪ [ Cheering and Applause ] >> THANK YOU, SPARTAN DISCHORDS FOR THOSE WONDERFUL PERFORMANCES.

AND WILL HEAR THIS MANY TIMES OVER AS YOU'RE HERE AND ENJOY IT EVERY TIME.

MANY THANKS TO Dr. HANNA-ATTISHA FOR HER CONTRIBUTIONS TO THIS YEAR'S FALL CONVOCATION AND HER REFLECTIONS ON ITS THEME.

VERY INSPIRING.

TO ALL OF OUR NEW MSU STUDENTS, I HOPE THIS EVENT HAS PROVIDED YOU WITH AN INTRODUCTION TO THE UNIVERSITY AND ITS STRENGTHS, VALUES AND MISSION.

AS YOU EMBARK ON YOUR STUDIES NEXT WEEK, I HOPE YOU BEGIN TO THINK NOT ONLY ABOUT FULFILLING THE REQUIREMENTS OF YOUR MAJOR, BUT ALSO OF THE ASPIRATIONS RELATED TO FULFILLING YOUR MISSION.

AS YOU MOVE FROM MAJOR TO MISSION, YOU WILL ALSO BE MOVING FROM PASSION TO PURPOSE.

IN SO DOING, YOU WILL BE JOINING THE LONG STANDING LEGACY OF SPARTAN SCHOLARS WHO HAVE GONE ON TO TACKLE THE SEEMINGLY INTRACTABLE PROBLEMS OF THEIR TIME.

WE ARE ALL COUNTING ON YOU BECOMING THE THOUGHTFUL LEADERS AND DOERS OF THE 21ST CENTURY.

BEFORE THE PLATFORM PARTY RECESSES, I WOULD LIKE TO THANK ANNESCIA DILL ARRESTED AND MIEKEN VANDERWAERDEN FOR CONTRIBUTING TO THIS PROGRAM AS SIGN LANGUAGE INTERPRETERS.

[ Cheering and Applause ] I WOULD ALSO LIKE TO EXTEND OUR APPRECIATION TO JEREMY WHITING, GENERAL MANAGER, WDBM IMPACT 89, CAMPUS RADIO STATION WHO HAS SERVED AS OUR ANNOUNCER THIS MORNING.

PLEASE STAY SEATED -- [ Applause ] I ASK THAT YOU PLEASE STAY SEAT AND HAD LISTEN TO SOME IMPORTANT ANNOUNCEMENTS AS THE PLATFORM PARTY RECESSES.

>> SPARTANS, WE HAVE SOME IMPORTANT MESSAGES TO SHARE WITH YOU BEFORE YOU DEPART.

REMEMBER, CLASSES WILL START ON MONDAY, AUGUST 28TH.

PLEASE BE SURE TO USE THE PROGRAM QR CODE TO SCAN A DIGITAL COPY OF THE FALL CONVOCATION PROGRAM.

BE SURE TO JOIN US ON SUNDAY, AUGUST 27TH FROM 4:30 TO 10 P.M.

WHEN WE HOST OUR ANNUAL SPARTAN SPECTACULAR EVENT ON THE IM EAST FIELD.

IT IS FOOD, FUN, FRIENDS AND A CONCERT AND SPARLIGHTS.

MAKE SURE TO BE THERE.

MAKE SURE YOU ATTEND ALL OF YOUR NEW STUDENT ORIENTATION SESSIONS.

ATTEND U FEST ON SATURDAY, AUGUST 26TH, FROM 2 TO 5 P.M. AT THE MSU UNION.

PLEASE PICK UP AN MSU T-SHIRT AS YOU LEAVE.

T-SHIRTS WILL BE DISTRIBUTED OUTSIDE BOTH THE NORTH AND SOUTH GATES.

DON'T FORGET TO PARTICIPATE IN THE FILL THE BUS CAMPUS WIDE COMMUNITY SERVICE PROJECT.

FOR THOSE WHO WON PRIZES AT THE END OF THE CONVOCATION, PLEASE COME TO THE STAGE ON THE FLOOR.

THANK YOU TO THE COLLEGE OF MUSIC AND THE MSU SPARTAN MARCHING BAND DRUM LINE.

THANK YOU TO SPARTY FOR APPEARING.

THANK YOU TO THE DIVISION OF STUDENT LIFE AND ENGAGEMENT, THE BRESLIN CENTER, THE OFFICE OF THE PROVOST AND THE OFFICE OF THE PRESIDENT FOR THEIR SUPPORT OF TODAY'S EVENT.

THANK YOU TO MIRROR MIRROR FOR HOSTING THE 360 PHOTO BOOTH.

AND THANK YOU TO SPARTAN VISION FOR PROVIDING THE AUDIOVISUAL SUPPORT.

AGAIN, WELCOME TO MICHIGAN STATE UNIVERSITY.

WE WISH YOU GREAT SUCCESS AS YOU JOIN OUR COMMUNITY OF SCHOLARS.

WELCOME, SPARTANS!