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"Studies confirm what we would guess. Chances that a student will finish high school, be prepared for, an go to college, increase with family income," said Bennet. "Economic barriers discourage many qualified high school students from seeking higher education and many of our nation’s brightest youngsters believe our best colleges are economically out of reach."
Bennet urged his students to use their education for not only their own gain.
"Access is about something almost all of us have, more than most people in the world. Access is about being able to be heard and taken seriously," said Bennet. "Wesleyan graduates, even in the early stages of post commencement job hunting, will find that they can open doors and can be heard and my point today is that we all need to commit ourselves to using the access we have to pave the way for others."
Even commencement speaker, Njabulo S. Ndebel, who also received an honorary Doctor of Letters, worked his whole life on achieving social justice and democracy in South Africa, used his speech to address current issues in the world today that concern him.
"War and conquests in the 21st century suddenly look distressingly primitive as instruments for conducting the affairs of the world, no matter how advanced the weapons of war," said Ndebel, the current vice-chancellor of the University of Cape Town in South Africa. "We need a new value system for resolving world conflicts. In that value system the mechanisms for the resolution of conflicts and disputes would be founded on the principalthat it is possible even desirable to achieve mutually affirming solutions: to have mutually respectful victors and no losers."
Ndebel saw hope in the faces of the graduating students and told them to use their youth and energy to change the world as he did throughout his own life.
"I do have faith in the power of humanity to reinvent itself. In this, every graduation offers that possibility," said Ndebel. "That is why I am so happy for you, class of 2004, who are moving out into the world, confident that you will contribute to societal renewal through your infectious enthusiasm and zest for life."
Many students had already made Ndebel’s and Bennet’s words come true as many graduates were already planning on going into fields of assistance after graduation and had the university to thank for inspiring them.
"This is a very progressive place. People here aren’t afraid to stand up for what they believe. They aren’t afraid to go against the norm," said Philippe Gosselin a film major who was joining the Peace Corps following graduation. "This is a very special place for me."
Rachel Curtin, who worked as an assistant preschool teacher at the Even Start Family Learning Center while attending Wesleyan, was sad to be leaving her own students but was still grateful for the opportunity to be a Wesleyan student.
"I was so very inspired by the teachers here," said Curtin an English major. "Wesleyan taught me how important education is and what an important role teachers play."
To contact Szymon Twarog, call (860)347-3331 Ext. 220 or email stwarog@middletownpress.com.
