What is Tufts known for? There are thousands of colleges and universities in the world - what sets us apart?
The answer can vary. President Bacow has argued that it's our global perspective. Provost Bharucha has said that it's the active citizenship component, giving students hooks in their brain on which to hang knowledge from the classroom. Dean of Arts and Sciences Robert Sternberg might argue that it's our ability to foster creativity and leadership. And, most importantly, students talk about the personal relationships they've developed with faculty and friends.
I can't give a better answer than any of these, and each individual probably has a different reaction to the question. In any case, Tufts is a great place that's only getting better.
And it's an incredibly exciting time to be here, or to be a graduate holding a Tufts degree. But with new opportunities come new challenges that we haven't faced before as a university. What do we do with the resources we now have, and how can we be sure that we approach the future in a way that's fair?
Our potential as a burgeoning research institution is without limit. But in that process, we also need to make sure that students aren't lost in the shuffle. We have to make sure that Tufts doesn't lose its undergraduate focus, and that we have the same small college feel with the advantages of a big university.
The cultural, racial, religious, ideological and political diversity of the student body is expressed best through the number of clubs we have here, and that's awesome. But what's lost when so many activities and so many groups are meeting at one time? What interactions are we missing out on because we can't be in multiple places at once?
Next year, we need to think about ways in which we can engage in a healthy, supportive conversation. We need to learn and think with each other in conversations that, while sometimes uncomfortable and even offensive, are honest and help us build community. We have to do a better job of capitalizing on the rich experiences of everyone here.
The new opportunities offered by accepting even more qualified students here - regardless of socioeconomic background - excite me more than anything else. But when we welcome new students, how can we guarantee that they can take advantage of everything we have to offer? We need to make sure that the campus culture is aware of the realities of class diversity at Tufts.
These are all realities we need to remember as Tufts continues on its steep trajectory.
The work we have set out to do is tremendously exciting, and I am honored to have the opportunity to help us build on the successes of outgoing TCU President Neil DiBiase and those of each of his predecessors. Together, we'll accomplish much next year.
To the rising juniors going abroad: Have a blast, and hurry back. Tufts might change while you're gone, but we hope you come back to feel more connected to this community than you did when you left.
To the graduating seniors: We'll miss you next year. Don't forget about us, because your underclassmen respect you more than you might know. The good you've done here and the success you'll have in the future will be impossible to ignore.
And to the rest of us: Next year will be quite a ride. Get ready to be role models to the class of 2012, just like 2008 has been to us.
Duncan Pickard is a sophomore majoring in history. He is the incoming TCU Senate president.
