President’s Perspective Dear Friend,
Springfield College has many fascinating stories, but few of them as compelling as the one of Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.’s commencement address in 1964, the 50th anniversary of which we celebrate this June. (See page 44.) In the spring of that year, President Glenn Olds—through his connections with Boston University President Harold Case, where King had gone to divinity school, and Andrew Young, a close associate of King’s with the Southern Christian Leadership Conference—had invited King to deliver the College’s commencement address and receive an honorary doctor of divinity degree. This invitation followed King’s
desegregation protests and the March on Washington, however, and, by that time, King was being labeled a communist and was more than a blip on the radar of the FBI. Olds was confronted with a genuine moment of truth: to bow to very real and powerful pressure—including that from the FBI, a U.S. senator, and at least one major donor—to uninvite King, or to stand true to his convictions and fight for King’s appearance on the campus. In the end, King—just days out of a
Mary-Beth Cooper
Florida jail—did appear and speak, and that aforementioned donor ripped up a $1 million check in Glenn Olds’ face. (See
Triangle, Vol. 76, Issue 3.) And, in that crucible moment, the future of Springfield College was cast. This was a pivotal—if humbling—moment for Springfield
College, and celebrating this anniversary gives me great pride. But, more importantly, I believe this provides us with an oppor- tunity to take stock of our history, broaden our message, and move forward with that same determination as we confront some modern challenges. Glenn Olds’ courage set the stage for those of us who follow. Our mission and Humanics philosophy are a strong foundation on which to stand as we guide our younger generations forward, claim our place as a leader and example setter in doing good for humanity, and reinforce our commitment to being a civic-minded campus. Yes, we are the place where James Naismith invented basketball, but we are so much more. In January, I had the opportunity to hear one of our very
own, Associate Professor of Communications Martin Dobrow, speak to a full house. His presentation, “History at Our Doorstep: The Remarkable Journey of Martin Luther King Jr. to Springfield College,” marked the first annual Martin Luther King Jr. Lecture in honor of the national holiday named for King. (Visit
President Glenn Olds welcomes first-year students to his home in 1963, offering the refreshments for which he was well known: apples, cheese, and water.
springfieldcollege.edu/sc-news/martin-luther-king-jr-lecture.) The courage of Glenn Olds is a beacon that guides us, and it
is in this spirit that I have formed two committees. The President’s Committee on Diversity and Inclusion and The President’s Committee on Shared Governance—both comprised of faculty, staff, student, and alumni representatives—will help us advance our mission. As we go forward, we can continue to learn from and live by the words and actions of both Pres. Olds and Rev. King. Their actions—and the actions of others like them—have brought us to a present day where all can have a voice in the process and where we can create and enjoy an open-minded and democratic campus. As King wrote in his Letter from Birmingham Jail, “I am
cognizant of the interrelatedness of all communities and states … Injustice anywhere is a threat to justice everywhere. We are caught in an inescapable network of mutuality, tied in a single garment of destiny. Whatever affects one directly, affects all indirectly.” Our lives and our work are, indeed, all interrelated. I hope you enjoy the Springfield College stories that appear
in this issue of Triangle. The continued celebration of the 50th Anniversary of Women’s Varsity Athletics at Springfield College, the young alumnus Matt Fenlon who has been named to an influential political post, and the recap of our inauguration weekend that took place last fall are examples of the history that Springfield College and its people are making each and every day.
My very best, Mary-Beth A. Cooper, PhD, DM 2 TRIANGLE 1 Vol . 85, No.1
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