"It seems like only yesterday when we had my inauguration 11 years ago. Prior to that occasion, I thought long and hard about what I wanted to say to that assembled group.
I want to run a tape of about three minutes of something I said at that time. I don't think you'll be very surprised at the words.
Access to the university has always been a guiding principle in this state. In one of my first meetings with President Friday in February of this year, he picked up from his desk this pamphlet and said, ÔDick, let me read what the Constitution of our state says about our responsibilities.Õ And then he read this passage:
'The benefits of the University of North Carolina shall be extended to the people of the state free of expense, as far as practicable.'
It is tempting to those who bear the important responsibility for the state's fiscal integrity to look at the university's low tuition and say, 'That's a bargain. The students and their parents will pay more, so let's raise the tuition. After all, everything else is going up.' And that's a compelling argument.
My answer to that is, first, it is already too expensive. Most students and their parents already borrow heavily for college expenses. Graduate students leave the university with a debt that anyone would call excessive and burdensome.
My second argument on tuition is that the authors of the North Carolina Constitution knew access to education was vital to democracy and were desirous and even anxious to make the investment necessary to produce an educated populace.
We must find ways to reduce graduate students' costs, to hold the line on in-state undergraduate costs and to make absolutely certain that no one in our state is denied a college education because of lack of money.
I can well imagine President Frank Porter Graham reading to a young Bill Friday that same passage from the Constitution about access and extending the benefits of the university. Dr. Graham fervently believed the boundaries of the university were coterminous with the boundaries of the state.
If I live long enough to know my successor, I shall pick up this booklet and read to himÑor herÑArticle 9, Section 9 of the North Carolina Constitution.
So this is our mission as I see it.
As in a relay race, holding the baton means little. You must run your hardest with that baton and with a final burst of energy extend the baton to the next runner, who carries on the race.
You and I have the responsibility to extend that successful history of the University of North Carolina into the future. I donÕt know exactly how we go about doing all that needs doing, but among us here I know we can figure it out.
The Board of Governors of this institution, those of us who administer it, the chancellors and trustees of the 16 campuses, the faculties, the students and those who represent North Carolina taxpayersÑfrom the governor to members of the General AssemblyÑwe must all work at finding the answers.
What we are trying to do, after all, is something we North Carolinians believe we are good atÑinspiring our citizens to become the best they can be. Our mission for the future may have a familiar ringÑto make the weak students strong and the strong students great. Thank you.
I suspect that you already know I still feel the same way, and I will read Article 9, Section 9 to my successor, Mrs. Broad.
Several people have asked me interesting questions during the past few weeks. The frequent questions have been: How do you feel about leaving? That's a much more complex question than it might seem, complex because of leaving so many different relationships.
First, the students we have on our campuses are most of the best college students in North Carolina, most of the best in our state and many of the best from other states. They are eager for learning experiences and they will do well in their communities when they graduate. I will miss them.
And of course our faculty members are excited, if somewhat unruly, but that is as I would wish. Anybody who talks with our professors would miss those discussions and those friendships. My colleagues in this building and the chancellors have been so supportive. When others are working hard around you, you have no choice but to do what you can.
I particularly would like to thank Mrs. [Mamie] Yarborough, Mrs. [Tracey] Avinger. Are you here? Stand up. They, of course, have kept me reasonably at the right place at the right time.
All of my vice presidents and colleagues in this building have just been wonderful to work with and I will miss them.
This Board of Governors and your predecessors have addressed your responsibilities and have helped me to meet mine. I cannot think of a single time when I was disappointed with the collective action of this board. I will miss working for you.
Naturally, I have had doubts sometimes about my own abilities. I would like to read to you a passage from a play, Waiting for Godot, which has helped me with those doubts. It may be meaningful to you in your responsibilities, too.
Let us do something while we have the chance! It is not every day that we are needed. Not indeed that we personally are needed. Others would meet the case equally well, if not better. To all mankind they were addressed, those cries for help still ringing in our ears! But at this place, at this moment of time, all mankind is us, whether we like it or not. Let us make the most of it, before it is too late!
Another concept that has helped me is this clue from Paul Tillich: "A man who stands on many boundaries experiences the unrest, insecurity and inner limitations in existence in many forms. He knows the impossibility of attaining serenity, security and perfection."
My people in Cleveland County sang in that small Baptist church, ÔThereÕll be peace in the valley, by and by.Õ But they did not mean immediately. And they learned to live with conflict. That's what the Tillich quote means.
Managing conflict creatively is really what it's all about. Interestingly enough, I will miss these conflicts. I will do my best to stay involved in some other conflicts but at a respectful distance from my past responsibilities here at the university. I like Lois [Britt]Õs prayer: I will find some new ways to serve.
The people of this state, the parents, the alumni, the trustees, the members of the General Assembly, Govs. Hunt and Martin, really everybody has helped this universityÑhave helped this universityÑduring the last 11 years. President Friday has been extremely helpful to me, and I am grateful to him.
If there ever was a team effort, the University of North Carolina is that team effort. I have been lucky to be on the team. And I think we won. We have a great university.
I wish for my successor, Mrs. Broad, the same great support I have had. She will need that support. I also wish for her and this university a good economy in North Carolina in the future, and I think we will have it. It has been a long time in coming, but economically it is North CarolinaÕs time at bat.
More than I could ever adequately express, I thank you for letting me be president of the University of North Carolina."
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