By Glenn Billman, deputy news editor
President Joseph E. Aoun and Student Government Association President Suchira Sharma welcomed Northeastern’s 120th class Tuesday at Convocation by reminding them to stay innovative and stand up for their values.
The hour-long ceremony, held in Matthews Arena, was a compilation of videos, a capella performances by the Nor’easters and speeches from student leaders and college deans. The focus of the morning, however, was Aoun’s speech, where he promised freshmen that education would make them irreplaceable, even as technology advances over the course of the next two decades.
“Half of the jobs we know are going to disappear,” Aoun said. “And therefore, one of the purposes of education is to help you remain robot-proof for the rest of your life.”
Aoun also discussed the importance of cultural agility, globalism and ethics in the job market and on campus.
“I haven’t met an ethical robot yet,” Aoun said. “What distinguishes us is the ability to define our values. To define who we stand for, and to embrace our differences.”
In her speech, Sharma, a senior business administration major, encouraged students to believe in their ability to create positive change.
“You will decide what your role is in Northeastern’s story,” Sharma said. “You will decide to shape not just our school’s history, but the world’s. Because Northeastern is a place where you can do exactly that — change the world. Make these decisions by first choosing to stand up, just as you did moments ago. Stand up for what’s right. Stand up for your peers. And stand up against tired conventions and constricting norms: Our world needs it.”
The speakers challenged the incoming freshmen multiple times to combat injustice in the world with the education they receive from Northeastern.
“The world is not perfect,” Aoun said. “Look around, ask what we hear. Exclusions, racism. People are afraid to say, ‘I’m going to college, because I don’t have my papers.’ That’s unacceptable. Don’t accept it, change it. That’s why you’re here. You’re here to make the world a different place.”
Sharma echoed the call for incoming students to positively change the spaces they occupy.
“Be part of the conversation,” Sharma said. “Develop a voracious appetite for questions, be unyielding in your convictions. Always seek to innovate. You don’t have to start your own company, or have a world-renowned co-op. All you must do to innovate is to leave the space you occupy — whatever that may be, a classroom, a co-op, a student organization, a team — better than you found it.”
Five candle-bearing student representatives of Northeastern’s core values — innovation, involvement, experiential learning, research and service — officially inducted the freshman into Northeastern by lighting a torch. The Nor’easters then sang a rendition of “Rise Up,” by Andra Day to conclude the ceremony.
For freshman bioengineering major Adam Mohamed, starting college still seems surreal. However, he said he was glad to be introduced to Aoun, who he thought was funny.
“(I have) been looking forward to getting here, just getting started for the whole summer,” Mohamed said. “Now that I’m finally here it doesn’t really feel like it’s started yet, but we’re getting there.”
