SCHUYLKILL HAVEN - While new students moved into the dorms at Penn State Schuylkill on Friday, they were also greeted with an opening address at the new student convocation.
In addition to addressing the students, the convocation was also to let the community know that the campus is back in session and to tell about what the college community is thinking.
Welcoming the students was Stephen R. Couch, director of academic affairs, Kelly M. Austin, chancellor, and Matthew J. Swatchick, director of student affairs, along with guest speaker, Charles Cantalupo, distinguished professor of English, comparative literature and African studies.
Jerry Bowman, manager of human resources and coordinator of public information, said that the convocation was specifically for new students and their parents, and there were about 313 freshman this year at the campus.
Bowman said that last year there were about 400 freshman.
Since the theme of the convocation was "Living the Penn State Principles," Austin went over some of the principles that include respecting the dignity of all individuals, demonstrating social and personal responsibility and practicing academic integrity.
He told the students how the university is going to help them in their futures, between 2008 and 2018 there will be 1.8 million new jobs created in Pennsylvania, and 57 percent will require some type of college degree.
"Never give up on your dreams, even when the times get tough," Kelly said.
Following Kelly, Cantalupo spoke to the students in his speech with the theme "Who are 'We.' "
While Cantalupo first talked about his own story, which part of it includes a 20-year journey to understanding Africa that he wrote a book about, he also talked about who they all are - members of the Penn State community.
Starting with asking people to stand up if anyone had won an academic award to anyone who knows multiple languages to anyone who knows how to cook well, he concluded with anyone who went through a profound crisis, which he said should be everyone in the room, referring to the child sex abuse scandal.
"Look at all these things," Cantalupo said. "The good, the bad, the ugly, that is who we are."
Cantalupo told the students that all of the experiences they have, including their time at the university, will help them find their own stories.