University Times

On Feb. 28, we held our annual Honors Convocation celebrating the achievements of faculty and students, and awarding the Rev. Edward Malloy, president of the University of Notre Dame, with an honorary doctoral degree in public service.

As the ceremony ended, I was reminded once more of the intellectual and service efforts of our faculty and students. Among those students we honored on Feb. 28, some came from well-to-do families; others from families less well-to-do. Some had dealt with few monetary worries; others had dealt with many, worked two or three jobs to pay their way. Some had been spared prejudice; others had suffered the evils of bigotry. Some sailed through their courses, while others had struggled, persisted, and finally excelled. But all those we honored shared one common attribute: They had chosen and attained very high standards. For that reason we publicly applauded the breadth and depth of achievement they have demonstrated in the humanities, social sciences, natural sciences and the professions. Such achievements are often called elitist. I know that elitism strikes many people as snobbish or presumptuous. Why give praise to these qualities? But "elitism," in the sense that lends significance to Honors Convocation, comes from Latin, meaning "to choose"– to choose the best or the finest or the most distinguished.

Elitism does not adhere to a privileged class. It is not obtained by virtue of birth or by the invidious belief that some groups are naturally dominant over others. Elitism must be based singularly on extraordinary learning and achievement. This is the very essence, the sine qua non, of a university. We must be careful here to clarify the relationship between egalitarianism and elitism. Egalitarianism argues that everyone must have an equal opportunity to enter a race. Elitism says that whoever runs fastest is declared winner of a race. The metaphor of a competitive race,

I know, is not entirely appropriate to higher education and the quest of wisdom. But tests are given here, grades assigned, and superior comprehension of an idea is accorded higher merit than lesser comprehension. And I say to all those recognized at Honors Convocation and to all members of our University community who are doing worthy and creative work: Do not shy away from your talents. There is nothing wrong at being very, very good at something. At the University of Pittsburgh we cherish the principles of egalitarianism and equal rights. We likewise dedicate ourselves to hard work, high aspirations, and the choice of excellence.

J. Dennis O'Connor