Boston University Acting President and Chancellor John Silber advised students to spend 70 hours per week on studies yesterday, during his address to the freshman class at yesterday’s matriculation ceremony.
Silber divided an ideal student’s day into seven hours for study, eight hours for sleep and six hours for fun.
“Six hours of fun a day is all most people can stand,” he noted.
The class of 2006, the largest in BU’s history, was the first to matriculate in the new track and field building, located at 100 Ashford St. The building was finished only a week before the ceremony.
While a few dozed and others chatted with friends, many students listened to the advice of speakers Sorboni Banerjee, a 2002 COM graduate; Theo De Winter, professor of manufacturing from the College of Engineering; and Silber.
All three mainly stuck to traditional themes, advising students to study hard, make new friends, expand their horizons, take advantage of the city, and get to know their professors.
Reverend Hope Luckie, acting dean of Marsh Chapel, opened with a prayer for perfect peace, perfect friends and, among other things, perfect grades.
De Winter gave the induction speech, acknowledging first that he was only repeating what he told students every year. He offered three pieces of advice.
“First, don’t catch up on sleep in class. Second, get to know a few of your professors well enough for it to be meaningful. You’re paying me my time is yours,” he said. “Four years from now, be able to say you are proud of what you have done here.”
Banerjee’s modest speech asked the incoming class to focus on three parts of life at BU: health, environment and education.
“There is no campus, but it has a city. Use it,” she said, inviting freshmen to explore baseball, the North End and Landsdowne Street. “And once, go to the top of the John Hancock building that’s your campus.
“Hold on to the energy and enthusiasm you have as a freshman not just for four years, but forever,” she added.
Silber used his 45-minute speech to address everything from professors, the diversity of the class, the promise of a complete Student Village by the class’ junior year, sex, drugs, alcohol, writing letters home, and Boston traffic.
“When I see you four years from now, you won’t be the same. You will be the people that you will become after four years of opportunity and education.” Silber said. “Make the best of the opportunity we provide.”
Silber also discussed the pleasure of learning and the importance of a cosmopolitan school.
“To study, if it is a subject you are interested in, is not work; it is leisure,” he said. “I hope they are difficult years; that is why you are here.”
Silber did his best to express his vision of an ideal BU education over the growing din of distracted conversations, in the few minutes before the class of 2006 officially became BU students.
“This is probably the least politically correct university in the United States,” he said. “We are seeking truth.
“I hope more than anything else that you will be seized with inspiration,” he added. “I hope you will be free from indifference and touched by fire and go through your college years with passion and intensity.”
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