By Lisa Marsh Ryerson 
President of Wells College

Wells College is hereby officially open for her 134th academic year. Welcome everyone.

In particular, it is my great pleasure to welcome the members of the Class of 2005 and 46 new transfer students. We are thrilled to have you here with us as we celebrate the beginning of a new academic year. We are enjoying growth in the geographic diversity of the student body and the faculty. We have Wells women in our student body representing China, France, Hungary, Ireland, Japan, South Africa, and Turkey. We have students from 30 states and Puerto Rico, in addition to those from New York. The different perspectives that diversity in all areas brings to campus greatly enriches the Wells experience for everyone.

Our present Opening Convocation also incorporates an older tradition called Cap and Gown Day — when the seniors first appear in academic regalia. True to that tradition, the Class of 2002 is with us tonight. Welcome and congratulations seniors! On Monday, professors gathered for our annual Day For Faculty. The theme was PLANNINGWORKS! The word "planning" is heard frequently at Wells because it is part of all we do. Strategic and long-range planning enable us to best serve the needs of Wells women - whether they are alumnae, current students, or future generations.

Terms such as "strategic planning" and "institutional goals" might seem removed from a student's life. You're probably far more concerned about tackling that first WLLS 101 assignment or that first reading in bio, psych, or econ. But planning is necessary for individuals as well as organizations.

Socrates said, "The life which is unexamined is not worth living." Wise planning, whether it is practiced by a community or a person, requires introspection and self-knowledge. The college setting is ideal for this contemplation. Then it requires us to make intelligent choices based on what we've learned. When done well, it is a never-ending process. It is a source of constant renewal.

The beginning of the fall semester is the perfect time for all of us as members of this community,  whether we arrived yesterday or have taught here for 35 years, to think about who we are and what we want to be. Once we've re-connected with ourselves, it seems only appropriate to think about our relationships and what we can give to others. As Wells explores her identity, as choices are made, I hope we can mirror the process in our lives and flourish in harmony with this place we have chosen, this place we love.

We have moved forward quickly in the last year because our values as a community were re-affirmed in a mission statement written by faculty, administration, trustees, and alumnae. The mission guides our planning in all areas of college life and connects all we do. It is our contract with students. The new mission states Wells' commitment "to educate women to think critically, reason wisely, and act humanely as they cultivate meaningful lives."

Wells women are highly individualistic. They have diverse interests and high expectations. To meet their needs, faculty are involved in planning so we can provide a level of academic excellence across majors comparable to, or exceeding, what is offered at other top liberal arts colleges. We are examining the campus environment and discussing ways it can be improved to support the mission and strengthen the community atmosphere essential for learning.

Our mission statement also says, "Through Wells' academic program, residential atmosphere, and community activities, students learn and practice the ideals of the liberal arts."

Wells is a comfortable place that feels like home. The education you receive is special because you are educated as a whole person. In this environment, you have the freedom to test ideas and express yourself. Your individualism is respected. Your integrity is assumed.

This freedom, in large part, is possible due to our Honor Code, a subject that generated fascinating discussion during Day For Faculty. The choice you have made to live by the Honor Code is your contract, as a student, with Wells. You have committed to take personal responsibility and practice mutual respect. You have pledged to act with integrity.

The Honor Code stands on a foundation of trust. We must trust each other in order to make it work. And you can trust only if you believe in your own trustworthiness. The Wells community is unique in all of higher education because of our belief in each other.

An event in our shared, popular culture this summer made me think about Wells' uniqueness and its meaning. A liberal arts education enables you to find connections in the strangest of places.

I would be surprised if any of us here tonight escaped the promotions connected to the Hollywood blockbuster Planet of the Apes. I wouldn't be surprised if more was spent on the promotion of the movie than Tim Burton was allowed to spend to make it.

Planet of the Apes from this summer is a remake inspired by a series of classic films made 30 years ago. Probably less known is the fact that these movies are all based on a novel by French author Pierre Boulle. His book is a witty and chilling political satire. The rebirth of Planet of the Apes made me wonder why this old story captivates each new generation. I know Associate Professor of English Catherine Burroughs asks the same questions in her classes about a similar and older story: Mary Shelley's Frankenstein.

In the case of Planet of the Apes, we are thrilled with the vision of a world turned upside down. In this world, humans are kept as pets while Baboons discuss metaphysics. This makes good entertainment.

And art that reverses our notions of what we believe to be true also sparks our imaginations and intellects. It gives us the freedom to imagine different worlds. The horror of a life lived in fear becomes vivid when we can, if only for a few moments, really imagine what it is like to live in fear. It might give birth to compassion. We can also imagine a better world when we unchain our minds from notions that we have accepted all our lives without question.

I hope none of you recently arrived in Aurora - like Mark Wahlberg in the film - feel as if your spaceship has just crashed on the planet of the apes. I like to think of Wells as a utopia, not a dystopia. And I noticed even on the Planet of the Apes, the gender equity battle has not yet been won.

However, I do hope the Wells environment, built on trust, shaped by wise reasoning, and governed by humane actions - challenges you to imagine a different and better world. I hope you can see your importance in this world.

At Wells, women are first in the classroom and on the athletic field. Women are the leaders. This is very different from the world many of us have experienced outside of Wells. This is very different from what you might have been told the world should be. You will discover the power of women and what the world can be if women's voices are heard and their talents appreciated.

As our mission states, it is the responsibility of each of us "to share the privileges of education with others." Like the generations before you, it will eventually become your responsibility to take the knowledge and vision you have gained here and use it to change the world. This is our tradition. And it is our future.

This year, let's learn together and plan together. Let's shape our personal goals and imagine a world where our voices are heard and our beliefs are translated to action.

Thank you. And welcome back everyone.

Candlelight Ceremony

We now begin the Candlelight Ceremony, another tradition that can be traced to the earliest days of the college and reflects Henry Wells' philosophy of education. The ceremony was especially prominent in the 1930s when all students were inducted into the Service League, a non-denominational organization, in September of each year. In the early 1960s, students were required to wear white dresses and gloves for the occasion. Although the ceremony has evolved through the years, its meaning remains constant.

Symbolic of the Wells Connection, the candle flame will be passed from the alumnae to the senior class. This year alumnae are represented by Patti Wenzel Callahan '79, President of the Alumnae Association, and Irene White Varga '97, FARGO board member.

The seniors will pass it on to their sisters and to the newest members of the Wells community. Thus, the flame is the ongoing Wells Connection. From generation to generation, it serves as the support which Wells women give one another throughout their lives. Included also are the Wells faculty. Their commitment to Wells students has inspired and enabled Wells women to gain knowledge and confidence.

The Candlelight Ceremony symbolizes the lives of the entire Wells community. The passing of the flame represents all that is best about ourselves and about Wells. Keep the flame burning, keep Wells strong, pass it on.

Delivered August 30 2001, at Wells College.