Freshmen officially welcomed to Pitt

As freshmen in matching blue T-shirts filed into the Petersen Events Center on Wednesday,…

Sarah Kontos / Senior Staff Photographer

Chancellor Mark Nordenberg spoke to the Class of 2016 at the Freshman Convocation ceremony on Wednesday.

As freshmen in matching blue T-shirts filed into the Petersen Events Center on Wednesday, they bubbled with nervous energy. The group burst into spontaneous fits of rhythmic clapping and “the wave” as it waited for the Freshman Convocation for the Class of 2016 to begin.

Beginning at 3 p.m. and lasting about an hour, the ceremony consisted of speeches from the University’s Provost Patricia Beeson, Chancellor Mark Nordenberg, Dean of Students Kathy Humphrey and Student Government Board President James Landreneau. In addition to the incoming freshman class, parents and members of Pitt’s faculty also attended.

After opening the Convocation by describing it as “formally welcoming new students into the Pitt community,” Beeson introduced Nordenberg, who gave the first speech. The chancellor lauded the accomplishments of the University and its students as Pitt has grown over the past 225 years. Among its many accomplishments, Nordenberg said, Pitt has produced four Rhodes Scholars in the past seven years and ranks among the top 10 research universities in the nation.

In his speech, he said that contrary to popular belief, University organizers do not want students’ four undergraduate years to be the happiest of their lives, but instead form a foundation on which to build their futures.

Freshman Alec Evachek said that his favorite part of the ceremony was Nordenberg talking about what the University could provide for his class. Another first-year Panther, Rob Greil, said he liked hearing how Pitt was ranked so highly among other schools.

Humphrey, displaying her trademark exuberance, spoke next, discussing the difficult separation and transition for both students and their parents that the first year of college can bring. She suggested that students fight homesickness by mastering Plato’s three parts of the soul: the intellect, the will and the emotions.

Humphrey’s refrain was, “You are in charge.”

Freshman Morgan Hinds said she enjoyed Humphrey’s speech the most because the dean gave off a vibrant personality.

Freshman Lindsay Chaikin was also drawn to Humphrey’s personality.

“I could really focus in on and relate to what she was saying,” she said.

Landreneau closed the ceremony by talking about his experiences attending Pitt and leading the new class in the Pitt Promise, a commitment to common values shared by students at the University.

Landreneau’s speech was the best part of the ceremony for freshman Brooke Pianka.

“He seemed really outgoing, and he really loves his school,” she said.