"You Belong Here"
Opening Convocation

Do you remember the children's TV show, Mr. Rogers' Neighborhood? Mr. Rogers comes through the door to the sounds of soupy, sappy music; he takes off his jacket, hanging it carefully in the closet. He then takes a cardigan sweater out of the same closet and puts it on. (Anyone remember cardigan sweaters, with the 3 or 4 buttons?) He sits down on a bench and takes off his wing- tips. (Years ago my student assistant was asked by another student about the wing-tipped shoes I wear, and he said, "You know, the kind of shoes Daddy wears...the kind with bumpers.") Well, Mr. Rogers removes his wing-tips, puts on his slippers, looks straight at the camera and says, "I like you. You're special. Will you be my neighbor?" And the show continues with this sweet little story line that in so many ways resembled the same story line that had been running all week...all month...all year...year after year.

Frederick McFeely Rogers was an American educator, minister, songwriter and television host. He was the host of the internationally acclaimed children's television show Mister Rogers' Neighborhood, in production from 1968 to 2001. As Mister Rogers, he was an iconic presence to millions of viewers. He was also an ordained Presbyterian minister. Throughout his life he was a tireless advocate for the education and welfare of children.

Most of the students entering College this year were raised by Mom and Dad and a third Para-parent, Mister Rogers. You also had generous TV doeses of Puff Daddy, Bart Simpson, Big Bird and Elmo to nurture you through those early childhood years. For the most part these para- parents did a very fine job. Here you are, ready for College and the unknowns of that world. "You have brains in your head. You have feet in your shoes. You can steer yourself any direction you choose. You're on your own. You know what you know. And YOU are the guy who'll decide where to go."

You are also the guy who will run straight up against some college faculty member who will not think you are "special," just for being there, as Mister Rogers thought. You will not get a ribbon or a trophy just because you appeared at a practice, or a rehearsal or attended a few of your classes. Don Chance, a finance professor at Louisana State University says that Mr. Rogers meant well and was himself a sterling role model, but that with his self-esteem- building patter, he forgot that being special comes from working hard and having high expectations for yourself. Professor Chance compares Mister Rogers to Dr. Spock who raised most of the rest of us.

Jeffrey Zaslow, writing in the Wall Street Journal has called for a recalibration of the mind-sets and catch-phrases that took control of Mister Rogers and so many others. The most notable one is Mister Rogers' statement, "You're Special."

You're Special. Zaslow notes that a Yahoo discussion thread about Mr. Rogers notes that he "...spent years telling little creeps that he liked them just the way they were. He should have been telling them there was a lot of room for improvement."

Professor Chance goes on to say that he teaches many Asian-born students and notes that they accept whatever grade they're given. They see B's and C's as an indication that they must work harder. And they hunker down to that task. They see D's and they know they really are in trouble. By contrast, he notes, American students often view lower grades as a reason to "hit you up for an A because they came to class and feel they worked hard." As Professor Chance says, "the world owes you nothing. You have to work and compete. If you want to be special, you'll have to prove it."

You have noticed the brand theme that is appearing in so many public places around this College, "You Belong Here." It conveys the same message that Mr. Rogers gave you, but it does not say that as a birthright you are special. It says you are special because you earned the right to be at Greensboro College. We did not give you the right to be here; you earned it. You Belong Here!

You are special because You Belong Here. Beginning with your teachers and your Guidance Counselors and continuing with our Admissions Counselors we came to realize that this is the kind of place for you, and you are the kind of student for us....you fit in here...you BELONG here.

In the South we have a wonderful way of sizing up people and making judgments about them. If we don't really know someone, we will ask, "who are your people?" That means tell me about your family. If I don't know you maybe I know your family.

If a person does not seem to fit in, we often say, "You're not from these parts, are you?" Then after a brief while, when we have gotten to know someone, and we really like them and we want to tell others about what a wonderful addition this person is to our community, we will say, "They are our kind of people." And of course, we all agree, that "our kind of people" are highly desirable. You Belong Here.

There is a third meaning to our brand statement. The third way of saying it is, You Belong Here! This means you are a talented person; you are a likeable person; you would be highly attractive to a lot of different people at a lot of different Colleges. But given your interests, your background, your future aspirations we know Greensboro College is the best place for you to be now as you become exactly what you want to become. You could have gone to a lot of other places, but You Belong Here.

And so the year begins, you are here where you belong. We will learn from you and you from us. We will become a community of scholars and neighbors. From time to time we will disappoint each other, but the fact remains that you are our kind of people, You Belong Here!

Craven E. Williams
President
Greensboro College