Chancellor Block draws on personal story, focuses on diverse ideas in welcome address
In his annual address to new students, Chancellor Block not only praised the newest Bruins for reaching an important milestone, but he also encouraged them to embrace the diversity of ideas they will be exposed to, even when those ideas challenge them.
“I ask that all of you aspire to create a community that will help each of you grow and achieve all that you want while you’re here,” he said during Saturday’s address in Pauley Pavilion. “It will not be a community where everyone agrees. And that’s fine. I know we were all deeply troubled this summer by the events in Charlottesville, a place I called home for 29 years and where I raised my family. The hatred, racism and anti-Semitism America witnessed reminds us all that intolerance and racism are continuing issues in our society. But we will stand up to that, together.”
Block’s speech was part of the opening weekend of True Bruin Welcome, a jam-packed week of mixers, orientations, concerts, networking events and tours that, for the first time ever, included a block party in Westwood Village.