President to Students: ‘Smell the flowers’
Silliman University President Dr. Ben S. Malayang III emphasized the value of “reason” and “truth” during the All-University Academic Convocation on November 15 at the Claire Isabel McGill Luce Auditorium.
Dr. Malayang addressed students and members of the faculty and staff in a University activity that officially opens the second semester of school year 2011-2012.
“A university is a place where reason prevails over passions, and where the virtue and value of a person comes from his or her tenacious pursuit and adherence to truth,” he stressed, as he reflected on a speech delivered at last Friday’s Candle-lighting for Peace event by another Sillimanian, Dr. Henry Sojor, now president of the Negros Oriental State University.
He said that in a university such as Silliman, the ability to reason grounded on truth is an important component of campus life. It makes for a healthy learning environment and supports one’s pursuit of his or her dreams in life.
But, Dr. Malayang reminded the students that, as they work towards academic excellence and develop themselves for a career, they also must take inspiration from the intricacies of various disciplines.
“Don't forget to smell and enjoy the fragrance of the flowers of reason and of truth as you go through your classes and appreciate the beautiful intricacies of ideas in mathematics, philosophy, theology, law and engineering, and savor the complexity of human nature revealed in literature, psychology, sociology, anthropology and social work,” he said.
Dr. Malayang ended his speech with a challenge to students for them to continue being passionate about their pursuit for truth and justice and to find within themselves love to serve others.
Below is the full speech delivered by Dr. Malayang:
In last Friday's “Candle Lighting for Peace” at the Capitol, Dr. Henry Sojor, President of Negros Oriental State University, talked of the university being a place for reasoned conversations. It is a place where ideas are shared, created and tested, and where the value of an idea and of truth is given premium by all.
To this we add:
A university is a place where reason prevails over passions, and where the virtue and value of a person comes from his or her tenacious pursuit and adherence to truth. You continue being here to pursue dreams or careers and who to become after graduation. Don't forget to smell and enjoy the fragrance of the flowers of reason and of truth as you go through your classes and appreciate the beautiful intricacies of ideas in mathematics, philosophy, theology, law and engineering, and savor the complexity of human nature revealed in literature, psychology, sociology, anthropology and social work. Or the beautiful mishmash of functioning creation that you will surely appreciate in your classes in chemistry, physics, biology, nursing, medicine, medical technology and physical therapy.
The university, too, is a place where the beautiful and the uplifting are appreciated more than avarice, pride and self-interest; where singing, dance, poetry, theater and visual arts take high importance in the nurturing of the soul; where going to church is reflective of one's faith seeing the reality of a loving and just God.
The university is a place where the beauty of a person is created by the depth of his or her repository of moral courage to do the correct more than the convenient, and to pursue principles more than mere opportunities. It is a place where reason defines relationships and where truth always trumps hasty generalizations and self-serving opinions.
Finally we add, that the university is a watershed of ideas where disagreements must be encouraged in order to fortify the truth and interrogate to full measures all facts. It is the final refuge from pride and self-interest where passion for ideas is valued more than passion itself.
And so on behalf of all of us, I welcome you back to Silliman this second semester. Go on and continue being passionate for truth, for justice, and, through truth and justice, for a love to serve others.
