10%

Bates Begins

With Convocation and the Memorial Tree Planting, Bates starts the 2021–22 academic year

By Bates College

September 3^rd, 2021

The new academic year at Bates begins with Convocation and the Memorial Tree Planting.

At this year's Convocation, Aug. 31, Katharine Ott, associate professor of mathematics, delivered the Convocation Address.

Fellow speakers were President Clayton Spencer; Kush Sharma ’23 and Marcos Pacheco Soto ’24, co-presidents of Bates College Student Government; and Vice President for Academic Affairs and Dean of the Faculty Malcolm Hill.

After offering the benediction, the college’s multifaith chaplain, the Rev. Brittany Longsdorf, led the annual Memorial Tree Planting ceremony, honoring those members of the Bates campus community who have died during the past year.

Professor of French and Francophone Studies Kirk Read does his duty as faculty marshal as the academic procession leaves Alumni Walk for the Historic Quad.

Mace bearer Michael Murray, Charles Franklin Phillips Professor of Economics, leads the academic procession, followed by President Clayton Spencer and Vice President for Academic Affairs and Dean of the Faculty Malcolm Hill.

The Class of 2025 passes by the Class of 1927 Mouthpiece featuring a photograph and quote from late John R. Lewis, the 2016 Commencement speaker, who urged the graduates to be bold in pursuing social justice.

Co-presidents of Bates College Student Government Kush Sharma ’23 (right) and Marcos Pacheco Soto ’24 greet the Class of 2025.

Convocation Address

Katharine Ott told the new students that rather than try to answer a big question, it's better to break the big question down into smaller ones.

“Like the mathematician that I am, I will try to offer something useful on just one small part of the big question: Where do we begin...in our college classrooms?”

Ott urged her audience of students to remember they are building more than a transcript. They’ll be creating their own narrative, a journey where they are the main character, set within a community they hold the power to build.

Katharine Ott, associate professor of mathematics, delivers the Convocation Address.

Memorial Tree Planting

The Memorial Tree Planting Ceremony honored those who have died in the past year: Elaine Ardia, Robert Blais, James Boyles, Leigh Campbell '64, Bob Chute, Roland Girouard, Gerda Schilde Haas, Joseph Lebrun, Roger Plante, and Chase Pray