[Congressional Record Volume 163, Number 128 (Friday, July 28, 2017)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Pages E1102-E1103]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                       TRIBUTE TO WALTER HARRISON

                                 ______
                                 

                          HON. JOHN B. LARSON

                             of connecticut

                    in the house of representatives

                         Friday, July 28, 2017

  Mr. LARSON of Connecticut. Mr. Speaker, I rise to pay tribute to 
Walter Harrison, who retired as the president of the University of 
Hartford on June 30, 2017 after serving in that position for 19 years. 
In his time as president, the University of Hartford has truly 
flourished. Under his leadership, UHart has grown by leaps and bounds 
through increased enrollment, continued academic success, new academic 
programs and centers, and major renovations to campus facilities. He 
leaves the university as a place with a national reputation as a 
renowned academic institution.
  Walt is first and foremost an educator and a scholar of American 
literature and culture. A native of Pittsburgh, he first came to 
Connecticut to study at Trinity College in Hartford where he received 
his bachelor's degree. He then went on to earn a master's degree from 
the University of Michigan and his doctorate from the University of 
California--Davis. He is a veteran of the United States Air Force where 
he served as an officer.
  During his time as chair of the NCAA's Committee on Academic 
Performance, he became one of the nation's most influential voices on 
higher education and collegiate athletics. He has always been a 
champion on behalf of student-athletes and ensuring that collegiate 
athletics are always a part of an enriching academic experience. This 
culminated with Walt's receipt of the NCAA's Gerald R. Ford Award.
  Walt has not only been an extraordinary leader of the university, but 
has been a pillar of the Greater Hartford community. That can be seen 
in the two magnet schools opened by the university under his tenure and 
through his service on the boards of the Hartford Stage, St. Francis 
Hospital, MetroHartford Alliance, Suffield Academy, Hartford Consortium 
for Higher Education, the Connecticut Conference of Independent 
Colleges, and the Connecticut Science Center. Walt has contributed 
immensely to the fabric of our civic culture.
  I am proud to call Walt a friend. Anyone who knows Walt knows that he 
is a passionate baseball fan, particularly of his Pittsburgh Pirates. 
His doctoral dissertation was on baseball's influence on the nation's 
culture and he is the most knowledgeable baseball fan that one will 
ever meet. I wish him the best in retirement and I hope he takes his 
newfound free time to enjoy his family and to finally visit every big 
league ballpark.
  I would like to submit for the Record the undergraduate and graduate 
commencement addresses delivered on Walter's last graduation ceremonies 
as president by my colleagues, Congresswoman Mia Love of Utah and 
Congressman Richard Neal of Massachusetts, two proud UHart alumni.


                         the honorable mia love

       It is wonderful to be with you all today. It is great to be 
     back to a place filled with so many memories. My mind has 
     been racing back to places and spaces on this campus; to so 
     many lessons learned, and to so many people who made a 
     difference in my life. My time here as a student stretched 
     me, strengthened me, and positioned me to recognize 
     opportunities so I can rise to my full potential.
       One of those amazing faculty members who challenged me to 
     rise was Peter Flint. He was our teacher and sadly, he passed 
     away far too soon--but he is forever a part of my life and 
     the lives of those who were blessed by his vision and 
     direction. Peter had a motto for those of us in musical 
     theater. He had us memorize it--but more importantly he 
     challenged us to live it.
       The motto said, ``I am an artist. These are my emotions and 
     I own them. And I like them. My talent comes from something 
     other than myself, but I alone am responsible for it. I will 
     dare to be bad, so that I may be good. I am an artist. I am 
     that I am.''
       Peter continually challenged us to rise. He gave us the 
     courage to know it was ok to be bad in the beginning and that 
     working through the bad was the only way to rise to the good 
     and ultimately to the best we had within us. Above all, Peter 
     expected us to take responsibility and ownership for our 
     talents and gifts.
       Winston Churchill said it this way, ``To each there comes . 
     . . a special moment when we are figuratively tapped on the 
     shoulder and offered the chance to do something very special, 
     unique to our talents. What a tragedy if that moment finds us 
     unwilling, unprepared or unqualified for that which could 
     have been their finest hour.'' The great question you will 
     face in the days and years ahead is this, ``Am I prepared to 
     rise in such moments?'' I hope you consider today, graduation 
     day, the first step to accepting taps on the shoulder that 
     will lead you to a lifetime of fine hours as you rise to the 
     full measure of your potential.
       Two things for you to keep in mind as you get ready to 
     rise.
       First your ability to rise will be bolstered or shackled by 
     your ability to engage in elevated dialogue. It may seem 
     crazy for a member of Congress to be talking about elevated 
     dialogue--but I believe it is the key to all of our finest 
     hours. As a nation, as individuals, and as communities we 
     must get comfortable having uncomfortable conversations. We 
     cannot rise if we are constantly spewing divisive and 
     demonizing rhetoric. It is so tempting to melt-down someone's 
     twitter feed or blow up their Facebook page with anger-filled 
     words of frustration. Someone wisely said, ``Speak in anger 
     and you will give the best speech you ever live to regret.'' 
     Even if it's sharing a virtual speech on social media--the 
     result is the same. Remember this, moments captured are 
     forever and friends keep friends off YouTube. The solution to 
     any problem begins when someone says, ``Let's talk about 
     it.'' We have a long way to go as country--but it starts with 
     each of us individually being willing to have an elevated 
     conversation about the challenges of our day. It is 
     impossible to rise without being comfortable and confident in 
     higher dialogue.
       Second, remember that your goal is to rise with, not over, 
     others. There is an old Scottish saying, ``Thee lift me and 
     I'll lift thee and together we'll ascend.'' Sadly our society 
     tells us more and more that we should just look out for 
     number one and not worry about anyone else.
       My dad came to this country with $10 in his pocket in an 
     attempt to rise above the poverty and strife of his native 
     Haiti. Through grit and determination he and my mom provided 
     me, and my siblings, the opportunity to rise in pursuit of 
     our own version of the American dream.
       I will always remember the day my dad dropped me off here 
     on campus on orientation day. He was so excited and giddy as 
     if he were the one ready to start the adventure on campus, 
     away from home. At one point he became serious as he looked 
     me in the eye and said, ``Mia, your mom and I have worked 
     hard to get us to this point today. You will not be a burden 
     to society, You will give back. You will contribute. You will 
     make a difference for others.'' What he was telling me is 
     that it was part of my responsibility not only to rise 
     myself, but to bring others along with me. Just as he had 
     done with me.
       I will confess that stepping onto this campus that day the 
     thought of being a mayor, a mother or a member of congress 
     were not remotely in my mind. But when I stepped off of this 
     campus, as each of you will today, I was ready to rise to new 
     roles, responsibilities and opportunities. Each of those 
     roles has given me an opportunity to learn, to engage in 
     elevated dialogue and help others rise to their potential.
       You are the rising generation. You are the leaders, not 
     just for tomorrow, but for today.
       Today I challenge you to raise your sight, not just your 
     status, as you enter the workforce and a world desperately in 
     need of your energy, talent and commitment.
       Remember the second half of Churchill's statement about 
     those taps on the shoulder and those opportunities to rise. 
     There is one more quote I'd like to share, by a man named 
     John Greenleaf Whittier. He wrote, ``Of all sad words of 
     tongue or pen, the saddest are these: `It might have been.' 
     ''
       Guys, we cannot accept ``what might have been.'' It is a 
     haunting horrible phrase. Fifty years from now you will have 
     far more regrets about the opportunities you didn't take, the 
     mountains you did not climb and the adventures you did not 
     pursue than you will ever have for opportunities you took--
     even when you tried and failed.
       When we fail to continuously learn--we will be left to live 
     with what might have been.
       When we fail to engage in elevated dialogue in our homes, 
     communities, and places of employment--we will be left to 
     live with what might have been.
       When we fail to lift others as we ourselves rise--we will 
     be left to live with what might have been.
       A few years ago my family and I were at an event in our 
     community. There was a large hot-air balloon there as part of 
     the fun. An opportunity arose for me to go up in the balloon. 
     As I approached they told me to bring one of my children 
     along for the ride. I called to my son Peyton, who was 7 
     years old, to come jump in the basket with me. He hesitated 
     and resisted. The balloon was ready to launch and we couldn't 
     wait for Peyton to decide so I called to my daughter Abi who 
     jumped in and off we went. After rising in the crisp, cool 
     air and enjoying the amazing view of my district in Utah we 
     started our return to the ground. As we began to descend the 
     winds picked up and let's just say the landing was a bit of 
     an adventure. Peyton had watched all the fun from the ground. 
     As we got out of the basket he came running over shouting 
     that he was ready for his turn. Unfortunately with the now 
     windy conditions, the balloon had to stay on the ground.

[[Page E1103]]

     The opportunity to rise and soar in the sky came and was 
     gone.
       I took Peyton aside and told him to remember this 
     experience. Because in life, especially here in America, if 
     you don't take an opportunity--it quickly passes and you 
     never know if it will--come back. Presented with 
     opportunity--we must rise to the occasion.
       Graduates--your experiences on campus have given you a view 
     from higher up. Remember those experiences--remember what it 
     felt like to gain that new perspective, understand that new 
     knowledge, ace that test, master that new skill or maximize 
     your talent. So that when life knocks you down--and surely it 
     will--you will get back up because you know what it takes to 
     rise.
       So my challenge to each of you is the same one I make to my 
     colleagues in Congress--create opportunities every day for 
     yourself, for those you love, and for good people everywhere 
     to rise.
       To you graduates I say --You got this. This is your tap on 
     the shoulder. This is your time. These are your days--Rise.


     University of Hartford Graduate Keynote Address, May 20, 2017

                       the Honorable Richard Neal

       Good morning President Harrison, President-Designate 
     Woodward, parents, friends and guests. And of course the 
     graduate school class of 2017. I am so honored to speak at 
     University of Hartford's 60th Commencement Address. For me, 
     it is a homecoming.
       Looking around campus and at the students and faculty 
     brings back fond memories of when I studied here for my 
     Master's degree. For my first year, I worked in the Mayor of 
     Springfield's office during the day and went to school at 
     night. The second year, I went to school as a full time day 
     student. The education I received here allowed me to serve as 
     a lecturer at UMass Amherst and other institutions for the 
     last 28 years.
       The faculty certainly deserves special recognition. You 
     blend your experience and teaching talents to help students 
     reach their potential. As I have always said, when you reach 
     your potential, your potential expands.
       I applaud you for pushing students to rely on facts and 
     listen closely to both sides of an argument. You encourage 
     students to be curious and examine evidence while at the same 
     time, discourage them from insulating themselves from 
     opposing views. It is admirable and critical at a time when 
     many students and activists refuse to hear both sides of an 
     argument. The university is not the place for the incurious!
       As a graduate student, your professors expected more from 
     your writing, presentations and papers. In turn, you had to 
     ensure your work and arguments were backed up with facts, not 
     opinions.
       Since the beginning of this Congressional session, the 
     House Ways and Means Committee, of which I am the leading 
     Democrat, has been at the heart of almost every major public 
     policy debate about issues that directly impact our nation's 
     economy, including: health care, tax, trade, and Social 
     Security. My Committee colleagues on both sides of the aisle 
     rely on facts and ensure we take time to listen to both sides 
     of each argument. And like me, my colleagues think it is 
     important to talk in complete sentences and give thought to 
     something before we say anything. There is very little 
     substantive thought and analysis that can be done in 140 
     characters or less.
       Thanks to the education I received at University of 
     Hartford and the support of its great faculty members, it 
     taught me to think critically and prepared me to be the new 
     Ranking Member of the Ways and Means Committee. As a child 
     who was raised by my aunt and grandmother on Social Security 
     Survivor Benefits, the fact that I am standing here today 
     having accomplished as much as I have is in due part to the 
     great education I received throughout my lifetime.
       As you move forward in your careers or toward your next 
     degree, it is imperative you keep a critical eye on facts. 
     Because today more than ever, facts should count. And not be 
     seen as decorations to clever arguments.
       Unfortunately, today facts are hazy or simply non-existent. 
     The 24 hour news cycle creates a constant race to get news 
     out before anyone else.
       And often, facts are cast aside and ``infotainment'' takes 
     over--entertainment is more and more disguised as news. News 
     should not be entertaining, especially in today's political 
     environment. Opinions draw ratings and provide a ripe 
     environment for fake news to thrive.
       Merriam Webster Dictionary is headquartered in Springfield, 
     Massachusetts. They have become the referee in this new-aged 
     news cycle-having to point out what words are being used 
     correctly and when they simply are not. Who would have ever 
     thought ``bigly'' would become part of our political 
     vernacular?
       Fake news is not based on fact, instead reflects the ``only 
     if you agree with me'' mentality. This is a dangerous 
     precedent. As we saw at Middlebury and Berkley earlier this 
     year, the social media mob can disrupt a campus. It reflects 
     the common misperception that you are entitled to your own 
     set of opinions, but not your own set of facts. The 
     university must remain the citadel of free speech and 
     thought.
       A former Clinton official recently said UC Berkley made a 
     ``grave mistake'' when they originally cancelled an 
     appearance earlier this year by a conservative commentator. 
     These two people agree on almost nothing, but both fiercely 
     defend the first amendment. Why? Because cancelling events 
     like this sets the stage for a slippery slope towards 
     dismantling the first amendment. A similar situation happened 
     at Middlebury--student backlash in response to a conservative 
     speaker sparked violence and other inappropriate behavior. 
     Men and women in masks are inimical to representative 
     democracy.
       This goes to exactly what I am talking about. Cancelling 
     events like this lacerate the first amendment. Many students 
     like free speech--but only if they agree with the issue. When 
     our founding fathers wrote the constitution, they didn't 
     include an asterisk next to the first amendment that said 
     ``except if I don't agree with you.'' Students could have had 
     an opportunity to hear a view different than their own, and 
     used the experience to further develop and challenge their 
     own fact based analytical thinking.
       Biased news does not benefit anyone. Instead, it creates a 
     toxic environment that breeds misinformation, anger, paranoia 
     and stifles compromise and dialogue.
       My staff knows not to even ask me if I will go on cable TV 
     shows because the answer is always no. It is guaranteed to be 
     filled with inflammatory language that is more focused on 
     finding conflict than understanding the facts. It becomes 
     incoherent!
       Experience informs our judgement. It is critical for 
     students to engage with people with whom you don't agree. It 
     shapes your experience and ultimately your judgement. That's 
     how I informed myself. I read articles and publications that 
     may not agree with my opinion. I talk to those across the 
     aisle. I meet and listen to constituents from all walks of 
     life. And I always leave knowing more than I did when I 
     walked in. It's all about broadening your scope. Democracy is 
     supposed to be noisy.
       Backlash at Berkley and Middlebury both point to how the 
     first amendment is put at risk--those who think free speech 
     is fine and safe until they are offended and in turn refuse 
     to hear or even allow other opinions to have the opportunity 
     to share their side of the story. The first amendment is the 
     cornerstone of our constitutional system--the first amendment 
     guarantees a second opinion.
       How did we get here? Well one reason is the passage of 
     time. I am a child of the 1960s. Younger people played a 
     critical role in the civil rights movement and were focused 
     on ending discrimination. As time has passed and the central 
     figures of the 1960's have aged, the younger generation and 
     organizations that have historically focused on civil rights 
     have readjusted their focus to economic justice. While not to 
     belittle economic justice, unfortunately, free speech and 
     nonpartisanship have fallen by the wayside.
       How do we get back to a place where free speech is not only 
     protected and guaranteed, but can flourish? One simple, 
     important first step: listen. I was recently asked how I 
     engage with younger people. The answer was easy--the same way 
     I engage with anyone--I listen. Today, we talk too much and 
     don't listen enough. We care more about our phones and 
     posting information rather than listening. So much can be 
     gained from listening--it generates thoughtful discussion, 
     shows you care, expands your horizon, and often leads to new 
     ideas and compromise.
       I am certainly not saying this is easy. It's uncomfortable, 
     but ultimately, it is an important step to protect free 
     speech. The closing of the American mind is not helpful to 
     growing democracy.
       Columnist and Harvard Professor Cass R. Sunstein put it 
     well in a recent Boston Herald opinion piece. He talked about 
     the energy that goes into protests and encouraged students to 
     think through how their actions and protests will ultimately 
     help people rather than looking inward at college life.
       As complex as things are today, facts are more important 
     than ever. I challenge you to expand your potential, engage 
     with people with opposing views, and take time to examine 
     evidence to protect facts and discourage fake news. All of 
     these actions ultimately protect the cornerstone of our 
     democracy the first amendment.
       Thank you President Harrison, President-Designate Woodward 
     and the entire University of Hartford community. 
     Congratulations on behalf of the United States of America.

                          ____________________