Ferrum College’s
87th Commencement Ceremony

The Remarks of
THE HONORABLE GERALD L. BALILES
Former Governor of Virginia
and
Head of the International Practice Group
Hunton & Williams
Ferrum College Commencement
Saturday, May 10, 2003
Ferrum, Virginia

     President Braaten, members of the Ferrum College Board of Trustees, members of the faculty, distinguished guests and members of the graduating class of 2003.

     It is my great honor to join you today on what is an opportunity for revelry for graduates and an occasion of relief for families.

     But it is a pleasure for me as well. Having grown up not far from here – just go out to Route 40, take a right and head towards Woolwine – I know a few things about Ferrum and well appreciate what this school has meant to the area and the state as a whole.

     This institution, which includes all of you, has been an instrument for pursuing the future, and you have achieved admirable success.

     But you have also labored hard to preserve and extend the cultural legacy of this region – most notably through the work of the Blue Ridge Institute and Museum -- which, to my mind, is vitally important in a world where change seems to hurdle us forward at an ever faster pace.

     We do have a heritage around here, you know, and it’s worth telling the world about it.

     It all comes down to values and, you know, years ago, a man came here who understood that perhaps as well as anyone, and his name was C. Ralph Arthur. Many people think he saved this school and I would not disagree. He certainly turned Ferrum in a direction that enabled the school to grow and develop and become the resource that it is today, both to individuals and our society alike.

          Dr. Arthur understood the historic mission of the Methodist church, exemplified by this school: “Not self; but others.” He lived that motto.

     He also well understood how the larger world works and knew that the best way to get money was to give people a great reason to part with it. He did that for Ferrum, and many of these buildings may as well be monuments to his efforts.

     I mention Dr. Arthur because Ferrum has long attracted people of principle and vision and values. I don’t really think they come here for the money.

     I will give you another sterling example: Bud Skeens. What a terrific guy, who gave so much, in so many ways, to this school … right up to the end. He was a gifted teacher and a coach without peer. I know you all miss him very much.

     He lived an ideal. And he was not alone. Sam Payne has taught students about politics here at Ferrum for close to three decades – and in all that time, I bet he hasn’t voted for a single Democrat. But hope springs eternal that a man as smart as Sam will finally see the light.

     There are so many others: Faye Angel, Wes Astin, Jody and Joe Brown, Peter Crow, Carroll Rabon, Ron Stephens, Jane and Joe Stogner and the genius of the Blue Ridge Institute, Rex Stephenson … they have all given their lives to Ferrum College.

     And, then, there is your new President, Jennifer Braaten, who in a very brief time, has demonstrated her vision for Ferrum’s future, her powerful and inspirational leadership, and her commitment to vigorous academic studies. I am impressed with her dynamic personality and her interest in elevating Ferrum’s visibility within the region as well as the rest of the country. I am particularly grateful for her personal interest in the work and mission of the nearby Patrick County Education Foundation.

     You see, former governors keep track of these things. But it would be hard to miss what you have achieved here … there have been so many who have brought so much commitment, and it remains to the rest of us to applaud their achievements.

     So, I congratulate the graduates for not only succeeding in their quest for a diploma, but for choosing wisely the name at the top of that diploma. Ferrum College: It says more than you may even now imagine.

     The pursuit of studies at Ferrum is a living embodiment of one of America’s most enduring and important ideas: The pursuit of progress, a constant stream of human creativity and imagination, all driven by the hope and belief that we can improve humanity’s condition.

     I admit to you that there is plenty of evidence in the world to contradict such optimism. But in education, particularly higher education, we have the pragmatic means for achieving our most noble, collective and individual ambitions.

     And, so, here at Ferrum and across the country, this month and next, graduates, their families, friends and professors will help this nation celebrate this outgoing belief in education and what it has contributed to our society throughout our history.

     It will often be noted that the educational achievements we are celebrating represent a critical investment in the future.

     From one perspective, the investment is yours, of course -- a personal investment of money, time and, possibly, income you might have earned had you not been in school. You have sought personal growth, a better life for yourselves and your families, more interesting work and greater responsibility and opportunity.

     But it is Ferrum’s investment as well -- an investment in you, the graduates -- the belief that you can provide leadership to our society as well as provide a better quality of life for you and your families.

     So, what about the future?

     Well, I used to give a speech about the pace of change in the world, talking mostly about the great changes that occurred during the 20th century. But as I sat down to write this speech, I thought about all the things that have changed simply since the last time I took this podium – 14 years ago – to talk to Ferrum’s graduating class of 1989.

     The members of this graduating class were in grade school. Many members of your faculty were probably in college themselves.

     In 1989, the Soviet Union was a super power bristling with powerful weapons. Today, the Soviet Union no longer exists and 15 new countries stand in its place, many of which are now joining NATO and the European Union.
In 1989, there were two Germanys … east and west. Today there’s a unified Germany and the wall that once split Berlin has been sold in small chunks to tourists.

     In 1989, the Soviet Union left Afghanistan after years of conflict and confusion. Today, the United States is in Afghanistan.

     In 1989, Japan was praised as a global model of economic strength and competitiveness. Many said it was an economic threat. Today, Japan flounders after a decade of declining financial strength.

     In 1989, people knew about terrorism in the form of car bombs and plane hijackings, but it seemed distant and removed. Today, we know differently and realize our vulnerability to acts of terrorism.

     Many changes have occurred right here at home.

     In 1989 the population of the United States totaled 246,819,230. Today, it stands at 284 million. In Virginia the number has jumped from 6.1 million to 7.1 million. And the landscape has been dramatically altered in the intervening years: more people means more homes, more cars, more change.

     I remember I had a portable phone in 1989. I could barely lift it and it cost a bundle. Today, every kid in school seems to have a cell phone, and the phones include email, games and cameras, as well as telephone service.

     In 1989, the internet and the worldwide web were the province of the few.

     Today, it is the crossroads of communication, commercial transactions, travel arrangements … even college on-line, heaven forbid.

     If the past fourteen years have brought so much change so quickly, what’s next? How will technology change our personal lives? How will trade and communications alter the world of commerce among nations? How will society adjust to the consequences of change, especially if the gap between the “haves” and “have-nots” continues to expand, here at home as well as abroad?

     These questions are fundamental to your future. And a lot more fundamental to your future than mine. Because it will shape how well you live, the work you do, the dreams you realize.

     Here’s something you can bank on: In a world of motion, change, complexity and contentiousness, education is the one commodity that never diminishes in value.

     I hope that your Ferrum education will help you separate wisdom and knowledge from the informational tidal waves now engulfing our individual and collective worlds.

     There was a time when Ferrum was somewhat isolated geographically; some might say it is still not out of the woods! But from the early days of its existence when the College drew its students from the surrounding area, many of them from the Methodist churches that founded the new institution, to today’s student body drawn from all parts of the country and representing multiple faiths, this institution of higher learning has grown in size and stature by remaining steadfast in its commitment to the constancy of the value of education.

     It has reached out to embrace the future in order to understand it, to prepare its students for the world to come. It has studied the past without being imprisoned by it. It has placed a premium on preparation … and that is needed now more than ever, especially in a time when, too often, rhetoric replaces results, when slogans serve as substitutes for substantive direction.

     What I am saying is don’t take that diploma and hang it on the wall. Use it. Use what it represents in gained insight and understanding.

     When the “big story” of the day breaks, when all around you is the buzz of slogans, when emotions run high, step back and analyze what’s going on.

     Ask questions, read between the lines, draw upon your own experiences, your classroom studies. Be tolerant of other viewpoints, cultures and faiths without sacrificing your own, and be skeptical of those who use social “hot button” issues to drive wedges into our communities of common interests, those “true believers” who volley and thunder at the expense of moderation, reason and practical common sense.

     Let me go a step further and make a couple of recommendations.

     First, use your education to help Ferrum and higher education. Second, help hold this Commonwealth together.

     As I have already suggested, we face a variety of complex and, in some way, unprecedented challenges. A highly competitive and relentlessly changing international economy tests our people and our enterprise. Virginia is not immune to this.

     To succeed in the future, our schools must teach new skills, our workforce must acquire new technical crafts, our businesses must find markets and lands far beyond the familiar borders of this country. Virginia must be vigilant.
Because our educational institutions have provided for us in the past, there is a tendency, call it wishful thinking or complacency, to assume that they will continue to do so in the future. Nothing could be more dangerous or more inviting of failure.

     You, as educated, responsible citizens, now have a role to play in determining whether the full resources of this and other educational institutions in Virginia, both private and public, will be available to your children and others who come after you.

     Governors, legislators, boards of visitors of all colleges across the country, including Ferrum, are wrestling with the difficult task of setting spending and governing priorities. They have to decide what is most important.

     If you have enjoyed your stay at Ferrum, if you stand to gain from your presence at the College, if you are concerned about the future of your state and nation, you have an opportunity and the obligation to participate in that debate.

     Let people know that you support investments in the future, that you want higher education and Ferrum, in particular, to remain strong and to prosper, that you want the next generation of citizens to have opportunities as good or better than those you have had. Don’t just think about it, do something about it. Put to use that Ferrum education.

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     There is another area of human endeavor to which you can apply your new education: you can help hold this country together.

     Supreme Court Justice Lewis F. Powell once observed that history balances the frustration of how far we have to go with the satisfaction of how far we have come.

     We can take pride and comfort in how far we went during the last half of the 20th Century in removing barriers of discord and distrust among the people of different cultures, customs, religions and races.

     And, yet, today, we remain challenged and committed because we recognize there is still so much more work to be accomplished.

     This country has long been described as a melting pot, a nation of nations. We are, indeed, a land of many peoples. While diversity defines us, our differences should not divide us. Whether we make progress in dealing with our differences depends upon our definition of diversity.

     There are some burning questions that we have to address:

     Do we choose to view the glass of life as half empty or half filled?

     Do we view differences as an opportunity to expand our knowledge or to close our minds to the unfamiliar?

     Can we disagree without being disagreeable?

     Do we have to be confrontational instead of being civil when we discuss the important issues of our time?

     These are not hypothetical questions -- they go to the heart of our civil liberties. If those liberties do not exist, if they are not preserved and protected, if they are not defended and promoted, then our differences will divide us and our diversity will destroy us.

     We know that we live in challenging times. We recognize the enormity of change in our society.

     The impact is felt in our homes and communities, in our businesses and governments, in our churches, synagogues, mosques and schools, and in the quiet corners of our minds.

     The comprehension of such change is difficult and often unsettling. Sorting through it all requires thought and time and patience. It can be frustrating and, as we know, frustration can often lead to fear; and fanning the flames of fear is the work of demagogues.

     History has shown that it is but a short step between demagoguery and the destruction of human liberties. If eternal vigilance is the price of liberty, then higher education must be one of the keepers of the flame, letting others see the importance of tolerance and understanding and acceptance of differences in a society that created this country and must be protected in order to preserve our civilization.

     Listen: when we tolerate prejudice, when we condone discrimination, when we succumb to sound bite solutions, and the “Taliban mentality,” we surrender a part of our souls; we run the risk of sacrificing our posterity.

     So, whether in campaigns or in communities, we need to be skeptical of those “political clerics” and “talk show hosts” who would play on our fears, who would use our differences to intimidate and divide us, who are more interested in tearing down than building up. They are the harbingers of hard times, if they succeed. Don’t let it happen. Use your education to educate others.

     So, as you leave Ferrum today with your diploma in hand, remember that education is among the most important threads by which we weave together the tapestry of American life. You can make that tapestry stronger and brighter.

     You can do it by supporting Ferrum and higher education; and you can do it by helping to hold this country and Commonwealth together.
In your departure, resolve to use the education gained at this College to participate knowledgeably and constructively in the affairs of your state and nation. Seek, in all that you do, to bring people together and work for practical solutions to the challenging problems of your communities.

     In so doing, you will confirm the potential that your being at Ferrum signifies; in so doing, you will earn the title of “educated citizen” for which you have been prepared at this great institution; and, in so doing, you will help ensure that the quality of life and the brightness of the future will be expanded and enhanced for the hundreds of millions of people who will inhabit our land and live on our planet.

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For More Commencement Information Visit
Ferrum.edu/Commencement