[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 160 (2014), Part 3]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page 4204]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




                         BROWN'S 250TH BIRTHDAY

                                 ______
                                 

                         HON. JAMES R. LANGEVIN

                            of rhode island

                    in the house of representatives

                        Tuesday, March 11, 2014

  Mr. LANGEVIN. Mr. Speaker, I rise today in honor and recognition of 
Brown University's 250th birthday.
  Since 1764, the crown jewel of Rhode Island's higher education has 
been turning out scholars, thinkers, researchers, and leaders. Few of 
the sixty original signatories to the Brown charter could have 
conceived of where the university would stand today. Brunonians today 
lead the world in particle physics, neurology, renewable energy, and 
many other disciplines that two and a half centuries ago seemed beyond 
human comprehension.
  As a lifelong citizen of Rhode Island, I am especially proud that our 
values of intellectual freedom and religious tolerance are reflected in 
Brown University. The mission of the university remains as relevant as 
ever: ``To serve the community, the nation and the world by 
discovering, communicating and preserving knowledge in a spirit of free 
inquiry, and by educating and preparing students to discharge the 
offices of life with usefulness and reputation.''
  Perhaps inspired by these heady words, many graduates have chosen a 
life of public service. This includes Federal Reserve Chair Janet 
Yellen; Secretary of Labor Thomas Perez; Governors Maggie Hassan, Jack 
Markell, Bobby Jindal, and Rhode Island's own Lincoln Chafee; as well 
my colleague, Congressman Cicilline.
  In addition to the many individual contributions Brunonians have made 
to the civic community, Brown has been, itself, a leader among 
institutions of higher education. The New Curriculum is a model for 
academic exploration that encourages students to take intellectual 
risks and reflect deeply about their scholarly choices. These values 
can be seen in the exemplary Program in Liberal Medical Education, an 
innovative synthesis of traditional and professional courses of study, 
and in the University Steering Committee on Slavery and Justice, which 
examined the connections between the school's namesake family and the 
slave trade.
  For the past 250 years, Brown has stood as a shining example of the 
success of free inquiry and the powers of creative discovery. Under 
President Christina Paxson's leadership, Brown is continuing to build 
on her past successes and remains a global leader in education. Just as 
her founders could not have envisioned the breadth of research being 
done today, I am excited to see what new fields Brown will lead in the 
future.
  I join all of my Rhode Island colleagues in wishing Brown well on her 
250th Birthday, as we all look forward to even greater things to come.

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