Credit: Nick Romanenko

Vice President for Enrollment Management Courtney McAnuff told the students that they were members of Rutgers' most academically competitive class to date. The convocation ceremony took place the evening of September 1, when new students arrived on campus for the first time.

Convocation 2007 website – videos, a photo mosaic, and more

Filling sections 112 to 118 – the entire north end of Rutgers Stadium – the most academically competitive entering class of Rutgers students with screams and shouts were welcomed into the Rutgers family during the first-ever convocation September 1.

“Rutgers is unlike any other community that you have ever joined before, and you are coming here at a time like no other,” President Richard L. McCormick told the crowd of more than 7,600 first-year and transfer students making up the newest class of students at the New Brunswick Campus.

During the formal convocation, new Rutgers students had a chance to see and hear from administrators, faculty members, and student representatives. They learned of Rutgers’ long and storied history and its academic distinction, inspiring them to take pride in Rutgers and take action during their years in New Brunswick.

 “It was a perfect storm of talented people, and everything worked like clockwork,” said Anthony Doody, director of programs and leadership for University Student Centers. “This task was a huge team effort.” Organizers included the Office of Student Affairs, the Office of Undergraduate Education, university student centers, the Rutgers University Programming Association, athletics, public safety, dining services, facilities, university relations, the Office of the Secretary, and numerous other units and groups, Doody said.

Convocation organizers ensured students would be in a good mood, and they were boosted by a spirited preconvocation extravaganza; the formal event was followed by a nighttime laser light show to the tunes of Queen, Jimi Hendrix, and the Beatles.

In previous years, before the transformation of undergraduate education took place at Rutgers over the past few years, each college hosted its own, smaller convocation.

This year, Rutgers buses shuttled thousands of students to the stadium, residence hall by residence hall. As each group entered, horns blasted and an announcer welcomed the students with medieval fanfare.

“This is a great idea. I can’t believe [the university] did all this for us,” said Alissa Imbriacio, a first-year student at the School of Arts and Sciences.

Michael Tolbert, assistant director of residence life, hosted the convocation’s lively pre-event festivities. Wielding a microphone, he hyped up the crowd over a background of thumping dance music. He posed Rutgers trivia questions to the new class (“What was the original name of Rutgers University?” was one question), rewarding students with T-shirts, mini-footballs, and even two iPods for answering correctly (Answer: Queen’s College).

Hundreds of students whipped in the air small, white towels, imprinted with the official athletic “R” and the lyrics to Rutgers’ alma mater, “On the Banks of the Old Raritan.” Later, the entire stadium sang along to the song to end the official convocation ceremony.

The Rutgers University Juggling Club, the Glee Club, and the Queen’s Chorale provided entertainment. The Glee Club scored a big laugh when they tackled a faux-Princeton rugby player in a re-enactment of the first college football game in 1869.

Executive Vice President for Academic Affairs Philip Furmanski emceed the formal convocation event. Speakers included Board of Governors Chair, the Rev. William Howard; Vice President for Enrollment Management Courtney McAnuff; College Avenue Campus Dean and History Professor Matt Matsuda; Associate Vice President for Alumni Relations Donna Thornton; Rutgers University Student Assembly Chair Jim Kline; and President McCormick.

“Members of our newest class – welcome to Rutgers!” Furmanski shouted. He was met with a roaring cheer.

“Your university is one of the finest in the nation, in the world...You have entered the Rutgers family, an institution that traces its roots to before the founding of our nation. You, too, will build on that,” Furmanski told the crowd. “Rutgers has never stood still in its 241 years. We are very proud to have you here, in the family, as our students.”

Howard, who was elected chair of the Board of Governors this summer, won the students over. He approached the podium, paused for a moment, and said coolly, “How ya’ll doin’?”

“We are serious about learning, about research, about solving human problems for New Jersey and for the rest of the world,” Howard said. “This is a place where every person has worth and is respected for the skills they bring.”

McAnuff impressed the audience with statistics about the newest class entering Rutgers. In addition to stating their academic competitiveness, he rattled off the states and countries sending students to Rutgers. As he named countries from around the world – India, China, Korea, Taiwan, Turkey, Canada, Japan, Pakistan, Germany, and Nigeria – students cheered .

Matsuda delivered an energetic speech to the first-year and transfer students and spoke of the inspiration in higher education. “Students are dying to be inspired, and that’s why you are here. And you know something? We are dying to be inspired by you.”

Virian Serei, a junior majoring in biotechnology at the School of Environmental and Biological Sciences, served on the orientation committee this year after working during Cook College’s new student orientation previous year.

“We had to change a lot of the ways we have been doing things, and I was a little worried that each school would lose its identity,” Serei said. “But there is so much Rutgers University spirit here tonight. I wish I had this as a freshman.”