President’s speeches, letters, and articles
Subject: Welcome to the New School Year
August 27, 2024
Dear Reed Community,
The beginning of a new academic year always fills me with a sense of renewal and excitement. This morning, we had the privilege of welcoming the class of 2028 during convocation. To these newest Reedies—the most diverse class Reed has admitted to date—I say: we are grateful that you chose Reed to be your home for the next four years. I want to extend my gratitude to Board of Trustees Chair Deborah Kamali ’85 for her inspiring and supportive words.
Many of you know that I am a music lover. Music has been a constant in my world, helping me find meaning in bad times and good. I always have a song playing in my head, and my wife, Cheryl, and I trade lyrics and sing lines as a regular feature of our marriage. Right now, a song we both love is filling my heart as we get the semester underway—the Staple Singers’ “If You’re Ready (Come Go With Me).” The rhythm, melody, lyrics, and powerful vocals are uplifting, inviting us on a journey to a brighter future.
Reflecting on the current state of the world, I firmly believe in the power of community and the vital roles of individuals in contributing to a collective. In life as in music, we all have distinct parts to play, and when we come together, we can find and sustain harmony.
This year will not be without challenges. The diversity of views on campus, while a source of strength, can also lead to passionate disagreements. Reed has always been a place where rigorous debate and the free exchange of ideas thrive. At Reed, students learn and demonstrate independence in their habits of thought, inquiry, and expression. We engage with the most complex issues of our time, as students and scholars, and as active participants who grapple with challenges head-on, seek out solutions, and contribute to the greater good with humility, empathy, and purpose.
As we do so, we must listen to those around us, even as we find and share our own voices. Supporting one another is necessary for us all to learn, to grow, and to thrive. Together, we will engage in life-changing work, work that challenges us, deepens our understanding, and ultimately makes the world a better place. Mavis Staples urges us to open our hearts: “Love is the only transportation / To where there’s total communication.”
I cannot wait to embrace the opportunities before us and embark on this year’s journey with you. Let’s tune in and get started.
Sincerely,
Audrey
Audrey Bilger
President