Salisbury University's First Convocation September 11

SALISBURY, MD -- With a new name, Salisbury University celebrates its first fall convocation on Tuesday, September 11, at 3:30 p.m. in Holloway Hall Auditorium.

The colorful ceremony, which officially inaugurates the academic year, begins with a procession of faculty and officers in full academic regalia led by marshals and bearers of the University flag and mace. The freshman class--at 945 one of the largest in SU history-- with Dean's List and scholarship students is the focus of the day.

A representative of the SU community traditionally gives the keynote address. This year new Provost and Vice President of Academic Affairs David H. Buchanan will talk about "newness," and will share a new experience of his own--picking crabs.

Shortly after arriving in July, Buchanan attended the Tawes Crab Feast in Crisfield. Feeling confident about crustacea (he has a history of steaming lobsters for large groups of people), he quickly learned that none of this was relevant for eating crabs. "I'm a Pennsylvania boy," he said. "I could starve to death picking hard crabs."

At the table where he sat, people were friendly. "All were going to show me how" to pick a crab, but each had a definite way of doing it. "There was no one way," he said. "Each had found a way that was useful."

Buchanan compares that experience to one that freshmen may be having. "They were successful in high school. That got them here. But there is a danger in assuming high school and college (like species of shellfish) are the same."

Continuing with his crab feast analogy, "Don't fill up on hush puppies or corn. You can get that at home. You're here for the crabs," i.e. academic achievement.

Prior to Salisbury, Buchanan was dean of the College of Arts and Sciences at West Chester University (PA). As CAS dean he administered a college with over 3,300 students and 273 faculty. Previously, he was chair of the Department of Chemistry at Eastern Illinois University. He and his wife have an affection for the arts and continue to sponsor a juried prize in painting at EIU.

A reception follows the SU convocation on the Fulton Hall lawn.

That evening at 7 p.m. a campuswide SUlebration of the new year and new university name will be held on the Holloway Hall lawn with Randy Ashcraft and the Saltwater Cowboys, and the Salisbury Symphony Orchestra. Festivities include refreshments and a light show. Admission is free and the public is invited.