『甘肃龙网摘要_威海学为贵：【听力】耶鲁大学校长2018年耶鲁大学本科生毕业典礼（二）』So, I ask you: How large will you draw your circle? Will you draw a circle that is large, inclusive, and vibrant? Or will it be small, “puny,” and privileged? The work of inclusion is difficult, bu...
So, I ask you: How large will you draw your circle?
Will you draw a circle that is large, inclusive, and vibrant? Or will it be small, “puny,” and privileged?
The work of inclusion is difficult, but the rewards are great.
Let me suggest ways you might follow the example of Pauli Murray and many other Yale graduates when you leave campus.
First, make sure your circles are truly large.
In today’s world, where you can have 700 followers on Twitter and a thousand friends on Facebook, it may seem easy to have a large circle. But if you’re bombarded with the same stories, the memes, and the same opinions from all your so-called friends, then your world may in fact be quite narrow. A conversation with six friends in real life actually may lead to a greater variety of ideas and perspectives.
In my years at Yale, I have been privileged to know some of the most brilliant minds in the world. I have learned that the greatest scholars draw the largest circles. They read widely and are interested in ideas well beyond the scope of their own research and their own beliefs.
Robert Dahl, who was a Sterling Professor of Political Science, taught at Yale for forty years. One of the most respected political scientists of his generation, Professor Dahl was an authority on democracy and on democratic institutions. And he was a beloved teacher and mentor.
After his death in 2014 at the age of 98, tributes from his former students poured in. One of his graduate students, Jeffrey Isaac, recalled how he vehemently disagreed with some of Dahl’s arguments, even though he loved taking his class. For his dissertation, Isaac proposed writing a critique of Dahl’s theories. Much to his surprise, the most enthusiastic and supportive member of the faculty in the Department of Politic Science was Dahl himself! He agreed to supervise the dissertation.
