On Tuesday afternoon, the Van Wickle Gates opened to welcome incoming students during the University’s 262nd Opening Convocation. Thousands of new students proceeded through the gates, marking the beginning of their studies at Brown to the cheers of parents and community members.
The incoming classes include 1,753 first-year, 144 medical, 103 transfer, eight resumed undergraduate and 1,270 masters and doctoral students, according to opening remarks by President Christina Paxson P’19 P’MD’20. Paxson extended a particular welcome to incoming international students, who represent the first class admitted under need-blind admissions for international students. This welcome follows Paxson’s recent announcement that 15 undergraduate students were “unable to reach” campus this fall amid Trump administration visa policy changes, The Herald previously reported.
The convocation ceremony included an invocation by the Reverend Delphain Demosthenes, associate University chaplain for the Protestant community, as well as speeches by Paxson and Dean of the College Ethan Pollock, who is also a professor of history and Slavic studies.
Demosthenes began the invocation by giving thanks for the “rich diversity” of the Brown community, “representing different cultures, languages, faiths, creeds, classes, genders and identities from across the globe.”
Students proceeding through the Quiet Green.
In their speeches, Paxson and Pollock both also highlighted the importance of diversity among the incoming student body. Pollock extended specific welcomes to “trans and gender non-binary students, and students of all socioeconomic classes, all races, all religions and all cultures.” Paxson said that Brown students are united by a “distinctive” blend of characteristics including curiosity, humility, openness and resilience which make every incoming student “right for Brown.”
In her speech, Paxson also encouraged incoming students to “risk failure” during their time at Brown, from their class selection to social situations. “Taking risks — trying things with uncertain outcomes — is part of learning. And learning is what you are here to do,” Paxson said.
She encouraged students to sit with an unfamiliar peer in the dining hall. “A stranger I sat down with in a college dining hall is now my husband of 43 years,” she said.
In his address, titled “Transitions and Transformations: Making the Most of Your Brown Education,” Pollock related his new professional role to the transition incoming students face. Pollock was appointed Dean of the College effective July 1.
“Transitions are hard, but they are made less hard when you are in community. I’m glad to be going through this with you,” he said.
He also emphasized the growth that incoming students will undergo throughout their time at Brown and beyond, comparing the experience to reading the same novel — “Fathers and Sons” by Ivan Turgenev — at various stages of his life. “A great book reads us as much as we read it. When we return to it later, and it strikes us differently, it is because we have changed.”
He concluded with questions for the incoming class to ponder. “What will your class of students do? How will Brown read you? How will you shape the world around you?” Pollock asked the crowd.
President Christina Paxson P’19 P’MD’20 extended a particular welcome to international students in her address.
First-year student Talia Katz ’29 said that Pollock’s speech “resonated” with her, and that she has read the book he mentioned. “I enjoyed the way he talked about rereading and how it has an impact on you every time you read it, and you see different things.”
Incoming masters students Natalie Mevises GS and Elyse Nelson GS said they enjoyed the “tradition” of walking through the Van Wickle Gates for convocation. “It feels very welcoming,” Mevises said.
Jaime Hernandez ’29 said the moment felt surreal. “It’s happening, and we only have one more walk through the gates,” he said.
