Rededication of Goddard Chapel

Remarks by President Lawrence S. Bacow
March 13, 2003

I am delighted to welcome you all to this special event, and thank you for helping us to rededicate Goddard Chapel. One of the many pleasant parts of my job is that I get to meet Tufts alumni whose lives span many generations. To each of them, their time on this Hill was special, often quite different depending upon their vintage, but always special. For alumni from a number of generations back, one of their common experiences is that they all attended mandatory chapel right here in Goddard.

The notion of mandatory chapel probably strikes us as quite quaint today. In fact, I suspect today's students would embrace mandatory chapel with about the same degree of enthusiasm as they would single sex dorms and parietals. (For those of you who don't know what a parietal is, just ask someone who went to college before 1969.) Very few things including chapel are truly mandatory on college campuses these days.

While the concept of mandatory chapel may seem anachronistic, I believe there is still great appeal in the idea that each of us should take time out of our very busy, overly scheduled lives for regular contemplation, reflection, and renewal. Time has become so compressed that we even use shorthand -- 24/7 -- to suggest how busy we are. In this hurried world, Goddard Chapel stands as sacred space where we can periodically withdraw from our secular life to nourish the soul. It is a sanctuary where we routinely gather to celebrate life be it through the joys of marriage or the sorrows of saying goodbye to a friend or loved one. It is a place where we come together as a community to support one and another during difficult times. It is a special place.

Winston Churchill once observed that we shape our buildings and thereafter they shape us. To those of you who helped refurbish and restore this magnificent building -- our donors, the chaplains, the architects, engineers, contractors, and project managers -- we say thank you. May your good work in restoring this building shape the souls of generations of Tufts students, faculty, and staff to come. To all who have joined us today but especially our very special guest, Reverend Gomes, welcome and thank you for helping us to celebrate this very special occasion.

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	v 2003 Speeches > Issam M. Fares Lecture Remarks > Rededication of Goddard Chapel > Baccalaureate Address to the Class of 2003 > Family Practice Residency Graduation > Matriculation Address 2003	Home » Speeches » 2003 Speeches » Rededication of Goddard Chapel Rededication of Goddard Chapel Remarks by President Lawrence S. Bacow March 13, 2003 I am delighted to welcome you all to this special event, and thank you for helping us to rededicate Goddard Chapel. One of the many pleasant parts of my job is that I get to meet Tufts alumni whose lives span many generations. To each of them, their time on this Hill was special, often quite different depending upon their vintage, but always special. For alumni from a number of generations back, one of their common experiences is that they all attended mandatory chapel right here in Goddard. The notion of mandatory chapel probably strikes us as quite quaint today. In fact, I suspect today's students would embrace mandatory chapel with about the same degree of enthusiasm as they would single sex dorms and parietals. (For those of you who don't know what a parietal is, just ask someone who went to college before 1969.) Very few things including chapel are truly mandatory on college campuses these days. While the concept of mandatory chapel may seem anachronistic, I believe there is still great appeal in the idea that each of us should take time out of our very busy, overly scheduled lives for regular contemplation, reflection, and renewal. Time has become so compressed that we even use shorthand -- 24/7 -- to suggest how busy we are. In this hurried world, Goddard Chapel stands as sacred space where we can periodically withdraw from our secular life to nourish the soul. It is a sanctuary where we routinely gather to celebrate life be it through the joys of marriage or the sorrows of saying goodbye to a friend or loved one. It is a place where we come together as a community to support one and another during difficult times. It is a special place. Winston Churchill once observed that we shape our buildings and thereafter they shape us. To those of you who helped refurbish and restore this magnificent building -- our donors, the chaplains, the architects, engineers, contractors, and project managers -- we say thank you. May your good work in restoring this building shape the souls of generations of Tufts students, faculty, and staff to come. To all who have joined us today but especially our very special guest, Reverend Gomes, welcome and thank you for helping us to celebrate this very special occasion.
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