This is a very busy time of year for Rensselaer students. You are studying sometimes late into the night, you are working with fellow students on projects, and you are participating in your activities and athletic pursuits. I hope that you also are taking time out to enjoy the many events that are taking place during this Grand Marshal Week, and to enjoy spring after such a severe winter.
However, the war in Iraq shadows all of our endeavors these days. I am sure it can distract you from your work and your activities, as many of us share anxiety and worry about the day-to-day developments in Iraq. Fortunately, since you are at a university, you have myriad opportunities to receive support from your friends, teachers, religious organizations on campus, and student life staff during this difficult time. The free exchange of ideas is an undergirding value of a university, and, as such, creates a safe atmosphere at Rensselaer for you to express your feelings and ideas, as well as to listen respectfully to others and consider their points of view. If you grow in your understanding of the world during your time at Rensselaer, then we will have done our jobs well, and you will have used your time well.
The world has changed dramatically since September 11, 2001. Now, with the war in Iraq, the world is undergoing yet another watershed time. As leadership is an important part of your experience at Rensselaer, I encourage you to watch, read about, and listen to world leaders at this critical juncture in history to learn more about leadership styles, as well as the demands and the rewards of being a leader in challenging times.
It often has been the case in history that war is the foundry in which leaders are born and grow—or stumble. The political career of British Prime Minister Winston Churchill, for example, was in decline in the decade before World War II. However, he emerged during the war as a strong, determined leader who rallied his nation to prevail through very dark days. Today, he is remembered as one of the great leaders of the 20th century. In the Iraq conflict, the current Prime Minister Tony Blair is putting his political career on the line to join the U.S.-led coalition. The ramifications of his decision will be interesting to watch.
In times of conflict, we look to our leaders for guidance, for a sense of purpose, and for reassurance. As you watch world leaders in the coming days, I encourage you to analyze their decisions, their actions, and their words. Ask: How are they leading? How well do they define their positions? How do they garner popular support for those positions? Do they challenge people to rethink their own ideas or challenge their worldviews? In addition, think about those qualities that you believe make an effective leader. Who do you consider to be leaders—either in your day-to-day lives or on the world stage?
Rensselaer offers an abundance of leadership opportunities in clubs, organizations, athletics, greek life, team projects in the classroom, the list goes on. The Archer Center for Student Leadership Development is also an excellent resource for leadership education and skills for your academic and professional careers, as well as your personal and social development. I hope that you take advantage of the Center’s many course offerings, workshops, programs, and events throughout the year.
In the meantime, as you discover for yourself what it takes to be a leader, talk to a leader on campus whom you admire to find out how he or she “does it.” Read biographies and autobiographies of a diverse selection of leaders. Ask your family and friends about leaders they have admired, and what qualities they find compelling in a leader.
More than ever, the world needs leaders with your intelligence, knowledge, and skills to meet the challenges ahead. Rensselaer is here to give you the tools you need so that you can lead the way to changing the world.
