By: Eilis O’Neil | Staff Writer
Before going into Bazarsky Lecture Hall, the only thing I really knew about Dr. Cornel West was that he had so much love and passion for everything. I walked through the double doors to find so many people from the Salve community sitting down and chatting with each other. Closer to the stage seemed to be more of the students and the staff and faculty were near the back.
Dr. Armstrong and Dr. West both walked in to a standing ovation. As Dr. West walked passed me, he had the biggest grin on his face. My first thought was he that is very grateful for everything and just ecstatic to be at Salve. Following an introduction given by the Office of Multicultural Programs, the discussion began with higher education.
He emphasizes the importance of higher education, but to educate your own desires. We are so stuck in the idea that everyone has to go to college and make the most money, but in reality, you should do what will make you happy in the end. I immediately thought about Salve’s mission statement regarding thinking in a creative and clear manner. If we all are here for what we love and want to do with our lives, not only does it promote a stronger campus community, but it will promote a better lifestyle in the professional world after graduation.
Dr. Cornel West then goes on about education and how we as students have to think for ourselves and find our voice during our time in college. He emphasized the idea of human connection since it is what we need to live on earth. By having this connection, we are face to face with challenges we may have never thought we would see in life.
One idea he stressed about was justice and how it relates to education, which once again relates back to Salve’s own mission statement in regards to a just world. By creating a strong foundation in the idea of justice during higher education at Salve, graduating students will go into the real world with the idea of promoting a strong and supportive community.
I really enjoyed listening to Dr. Cornel West speak about so many different ideas while connecting them all together. He was so passionate about each and every idea all while promoting love to every single human there is. Without loving one another there will be no connection along with not a deep level of humane and humbleness. There was one rhetorical question he asked the audience that really stuck with me. What kind of human will you choose to be?
Having Dr. Cornel West speak at Salve was an amazing experience, especially being a freshman. His wisdom struck throughout the discussion and made me really think about who I am as a person and how I will leave my mark on the world. If you ever get the chance to see him speak, I would 12/10 recommend.
