A Symbol of Freedom

Imagine living in a country where education is banned. Growing up, children do not go to school and simply stay at home to help their mothers take care of the house, or help their fathers by plowing the soil in the farm. Everyone is illiterate, except top government officials, and all decisions are made by the government. Speaking out against any aspect of life leads to direct imprisonment and possibly death. While this seems like a scene from a horror film, it is a reality for many people living in dictatorial countries. People looking at these countries from the outside, such as Americans, many times wonder how these regimes can be overthrown. They then realize that only through a desire for change and knowledge of the existence of a better lifestyle that progress can occur. It is only through education that people develop this desire and knowledge, which is why it is so important to exalt and display the freedom of education in order to let the world see how important it truly is.

It is ten thirty, half an hour until the beginning of the ceremony and already the main auditorium is packed with students, faculty, and guests. The students have a reserved section in the very back of the room, from which the stage becomes almost invisible. As eleven o’clock approaches, the number of people present begins to outnumber the seating capacity of the room. Although half the front section of the auditorium is completely empty, it is reserved for faculty, therefore making the unlucky standing individuals even more furious that there was insufficient planning put into this event. Unlike a normal event where one can easily tell if students or adults are sitting behind someone simply from their conversations, this event is the complete antithesis. Instead of being able to differentiate the students by their discussions of who got drunk the previous night, during this event both the students and the faculty seem to be focused on the lack of planning put into such a propagated ceremony. By eleven o’clock, everyone is outraged that the seating limitations were not taken into account when inviting guests. A middle aged woman standing to the right of me keeps on saying, “they don’t look very happy to have us here.” The honors students standing in the corners are raging about the fact that the Honors College made attendance mandatory, when in fact there is seating available for only about half of the honor students.

About a quarter after eleven the doors close and the Convocation ceremony begins with Drexel University’s President Papadakis addressing the crowd and wishing everyone a successful new school year. After the president’s speech a few other speakers take the stand until the back doors open and the faculty comes walking in, organized into their prospective colleges and dressed in the medieval, academic attires of caps and gowns. The various colors and forms of caps and gowns represent the school and degree of a particular professor. Simply by looking at the academic attire one can tell the degree, area of study, and the university that a particular professor graduated from. Looking into the crowd of black, blue, and yellow robes, faculty members enter with the dean of each school holding a banner with its name on top. The ceremony concludes with Doctor Shirley Malcom speaking about the struggles she overcame as a black woman, growing up in the south, during the time of the civil rights movement.

Looking back at the convocation ceremony it seemed like a complete waste of time. However, thinking beyond the two hours spent sitting in a hot, crowded auditorium I realize why the annual ceremony is so cherished and exalted. Convocation is an event that defines the success of Drexel University, and even more so, the freedom of education, that we are fortunate enough to posses. Dr Shirley Malcolm’s speech makes one realize how fortunate we are to be able to attain an education. The definition of personal freedom spans far beyond the right to speech, press, to keep and bare arms, because it also encompasses the right of every person to attain the required knowledge necessary to become prosperous, through education. What makes America so different from Iraq, Afghanistan, Iran, and other oppressive countries, is that Americans are entitled to education and self enlightenment. Education is an extremely powerful force that is feared for a particular reason. With knowledge, comes the desire for progress and change. For this particular reason education is not permitted in many dictatorial countries. By banning education, governments are able to suppress their citizens by hiding the truth without fear that someone will decipher the lies. Therefore, convocation is commended because it is symbolic of the freedoms that Americans are able to posses. With education there is no limit to what one can achieve, as seen in Dr. Shirley Malcom’s experiences.

Beyond the symbolic aspect of freedom that convocation indirectly conveys, the overheard conversations are also symbolic of another type of freedom. The fact that the university did not thoroughly plan the seating arrangements is a fault that disserved criticism. However, the fact that the students, guests, and even faculty were able to voice their dissatisfaction is another example of just how much freedom Americans posses. In many countries people are jailed or even killed for speaking against institutions, especially ones that are as large as Drexel University. The ability to complain and even receive and e-mail from the Dean of the Pennoni Honors College apologizing for the lack of planning is an extraordinary freedom that should not be overlooked.

Convocation, although a minor event, in essence is symbolic of the freedoms that Drexel University is able to display, teach, and practice to its students. It inspired me to continue my studies and try to attain a doctorate degree because seeing my professors achieve such success makes my dream of becoming a doctor a bit more tangible. Seeing a great number of successful people is an extremely motivating force that encourages students to desire the freedom of education as much as Dr. Malcom desires it. Sometimes the minor things in life help people realize the significance of the bigger things. In this case, convocation was able to make me appreciate the personal freedoms that I, as an American, am fortunate enough to posses.