1978 Fredericton Encaenia
Graduation Address
Delivered by: Mackay, Colin B.
Content
"Take Long View, UNB Grads Told" Telegraph Journal (19 May 1978). (UA Case 67, Box 2)
Four Honored
He said this had been his experience "and I believe it can be the same for each one of you - if you don't take too short a view."
Dr. Mackay told the graduates that a shaky economy and high unemployment are what he considered "short term matters."
He said that "it is useful to develop a finely tuned sense of humor, something closely akin to a sense of proportion. If you do not have the one then in all probability you cannot have the other.
"The gift of laughter comes so easily to youth and makes the campus such a pleasant place in which to live and work. Hold on to it - laughter is a most precious resource."
Justifying his stand that people should take the "long view," he said, "My being here today is reason enough, at least for me, to accept that one should always take the long view of events.
Dr. Mackay apologized for talking at length about his years at UNB, but said, "My excuse is that UNB has been the topic of nearly all of my talks and this institution always been very much part of my life. I did this consciously, because I have no simple solutions, or wise counsel or ringing phrases to offer as touchstones for you and me and this country called Canada in working our way through present discontents."
Dr. Mackay also said that a number of people were opposed to him being made university president in the first place, in 1953, so he expressed special pleasure to find that he was nominated for the position of president emeritus by acclamation by both the university senate and board of governors.
Dr. Mackay said it was easy to take a dim view of Canada's future, and he also said his own health was only as good as it was "because of chemotherapy and the wonders of modern medicine."
But, he told the students, "My single and yet, I believe, not insignificant request is this - join with me in taking the long view of what lies ahead, and not worth cynicism but cheerfulness. To do otherwise, as I have discovered from my own recent experience will serve no useful purpose."
Four Honored
He said this had been his experience "and I believe it can be the same for each one of you - if you don't take too short a view."
Dr. Mackay told the graduates that a shaky economy and high unemployment are what he considered "short term matters."
He said that "it is useful to develop a finely tuned sense of humor, something closely akin to a sense of proportion. If you do not have the one then in all probability you cannot have the other.
"The gift of laughter comes so easily to youth and makes the campus such a pleasant place in which to live and work. Hold on to it - laughter is a most precious resource."
Justifying his stand that people should take the "long view," he said, "My being here today is reason enough, at least for me, to accept that one should always take the long view of events.
Dr. Mackay apologized for talking at length about his years at UNB, but said, "My excuse is that UNB has been the topic of nearly all of my talks and this institution always been very much part of my life. I did this consciously, because I have no simple solutions, or wise counsel or ringing phrases to offer as touchstones for you and me and this country called Canada in working our way through present discontents."
Dr. Mackay also said that a number of people were opposed to him being made university president in the first place, in 1953, so he expressed special pleasure to find that he was nominated for the position of president emeritus by acclamation by both the university senate and board of governors.
Dr. Mackay said it was easy to take a dim view of Canada's future, and he also said his own health was only as good as it was "because of chemotherapy and the wonders of modern medicine."
But, he told the students, "My single and yet, I believe, not insignificant request is this - join with me in taking the long view of what lies ahead, and not worth cynicism but cheerfulness. To do otherwise, as I have discovered from my own recent experience will serve no useful purpose."
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