Julie Ramsey - Dean of the College

Julie Ramsey
Vice President for College life and Dean of Students

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Good afternoon and Welcome. Welcome faculty and staff, returning students, and most importantly today, a warm welcome to new students and your families-mothers, fathers, siblings, cousins, grandparents and friends-all those who are here to mark and celebrate this very important day. We know that this is a big day for all of you, and we hope to make it as enjoyable and memorable. Don't you love those folks who showed up at your car door the moment you pulled up to the curb to help you unload?  Let's give those folks a big round of applause! 

My name is Julie Ramsey.   I am the Vice President for College life and Dean of Students.  I want to share some thoughts about what it means to be a first year student at Gettysburg College.

My favorite metaphor for the that coming to college is that it is a lot like moving to a foreign country (something, by the way, many of you will do in the form of study abroad during your undergraduate career). 

This is a country you have heard a lot about, read a lot about, you have probably visited... but now you are moving there!  Just like with any new place, you will have to become familiar with the special character of that place.  There are the special names for the significant places .... This is the "New Quad," where we hold both the opening event of your college career. This is also the setting where you will graduate in May 2013. 

Other names which will become familiar to you:  Wiedensall, Briedenbaugh,  Glatfelter, Science Center. These are among the most prominent buildings and landmarks on campus. 

It is a land with a language all its own-we speak of degree audits, majors and minors, co-curricular programs, curricular requirements, course credits, and so forth. Not to mention "Servo," the Bullet Hole, the Commons , and the Attic-places where you will get to know friends and spend free time. 

It is a place where the residents occasionally dress up in some unusual costumes: the academic regalia you see us wearing today symbolizes a connection to a guild of teachers and scholars dating back to the Middle Ages.

It is a land with some distinctive customs- One custom is presentation of the Class Flag.  Today, the Flag of the Class of 2013 was carried by Denitsa Koleva, president of Student Senate.  Four years from now, in May 2013, this same flag will fly right up there, in the Cupola of Penn Hall at your graduation.    

What you will be glad to know is that there is no waiting period for citizenship in this new land.  As of today, you are a full citizen. 

I looked up the definition of "citizen" and the first was quite simple:  membership in a community .  The second was more expansive: 

"Citizenship implies the status of freedom with accompanying responsibilities." The status of freedom with accompanying responsibilities.

Now I can guarantee you that Gettysburg College will afford you the status of freedom-No one is going to be looking over your shoulder to make sure you eat properly -or go to bed at at a certain time-or that do your homework!  All those things your parents used to help you out with-or nag you about--  are now YOUR responsibility. 

But I am quite sure we would be missing a big part of the meaning of citizenship if we focused only on the responsibility you now have FOR yourself.  What I am referring to here is the responsibility you now have TOWARDS others-your roommate, your floormates, your classmates, your teammates, your faculty, the staff,  the townspeople of Gettysburg.  These people are all part of your world now--the degree of openness, respect, tolerance, appreciation, and courtesy you show them - makes a big impact on this community. 

You will also be a citizen of one of the residential communities here-whether it be Hanson Hall, Huber, Rice, Paul, Patrick, or Stine.  As a citizen of that community, you will be asked to show respect for your roommate and those living around you:  by limiting noise and intrusion, by taking care of common property, by getting to know those around you-I mean really getting to know them-and allowing them to know you and to challenge you!  By looking at the residence hall as a learning community, where differences of opinion, differences in background and perspective are to be nurtured and celebrated, not downplayed or dismissed.

As of today, you are also citizens of the larger Gettysburg community.  Gettysburg College is not isolated from the local community.  We are interwined with the town of Gettysburg and the neighborhood known as the "North End."  Our proximity to our neighbors lends a special character to the college.  Every day, you will see neighbors watering their flowers, walking their dogs, leaving for work in the morning, returning home at night.  The neighborhood around the campus is home to families and individuals who share a love of this community, its history, and its small town environment.  You also value these aspects of our community-or you would not be here today.  Your responsibility now as a citizen of Gettysburg is to help preserve the special character of this place. 

Finally, GB views itself as a member of a global community as well:  we take seriously our goal of "promoting local and global citizenship." Here you will be challenged to think about what your role in the global community will be-what issues you are passionate about, what problems you want to tackle, and what contribution you want to make to the world.

So consider this: 

It has been said that if you shrank the world's population down to a village of 100 people, keeping all the ratios the same, the village would consist of:

57 Asians         21 Europeans              14 North and South Americans           8 Africans

Half of the world's wealth would be owned by 6 people and all would be living in the United States. 70/100 would not be able to read.  50 /100 would suffer from malnutrition. 80 would live in substandard housing.

And out of this 100, just one would have a college education.

You have been given a wonderful opportunity.  We are delighted that you chose to spend this one precious opportunity as a citizen of Gettysburg College.  As you explore the freedoms and resources now available to you, remain mindful of the responsibilities that are part of the package.  As you learn to balance your freedoms and your responsibilities, you will grow and mature, and our community will continue to thrive as a delightful place to enjoy four intense, challenging and wonderful years.