Convocation Committee
KEVIN FREESE
Assistant Campus Life Editor
Each year speakers and events are
chosen to educate and enlight students based
around a particular theme. The Convocation
Committee is a group of faculty and students
that are in charge of developing this theme.
"We come up with a theme that any
department can fit to. [At the same time
we] then look for a keynote speaker to fit
this theme," said Linda Brigance, associate
professor of communication and interim
chair of the convocation committee.
According to Jack Croxton, the chair of
the convocation committee, deciding on a
theme and a keynote speaker is not an easy
task.
"We look for some aspect that we
find exciting. Something that the students
will be interested in," said Kay Stonefelt,
professor of percussion and member of the
convocation committee. "The most difficult
part is that we bring in someone that the
students will recognize."
Bringing in these keynote speakers is
expensive and these funds do not come from
tuition. According to Jefferson Westwood,
director of Rockefeller Arts Center, Wells'
fee was $15,000 plus travel expenses.
Westwood is the member of the committee
that negotiates contracts with the agents of
the speakers.
This funding comes from endowments
set up by the Maytum and Williams families
with the College Foundation. With an
endowment the original gift money is never
spent. Only earnings from investments of
the money are used.
"That is why the event could be offered
for free and tuition and student fee money
did not have to be used," Westwood said.
The earnings from the Maytum and
Williams funds totally covered the event
costs. These endowments also ensure that
the convocation programs can keep going
on and funds will not dry up.
The convocation committee is
currently planning the theme and speakers
for next year. Also coming up are two more
convocation events in the spring semester.
For more information on the convocation
committee visit their Web site.
- Convocation Committee Web site:
- www.fredonia.edu/convocation
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