BRISTOL, R.I. -- On Saturday, May 18, another class of Roger Williams University students will cross the Commencement stage to receive their hard-earned degrees and officially become college graduates. Joining them will be honorary degree recipient and keynote speaker, John M. Barry, an historian and author whose recent book details the work of university namesake Roger Williams. A day earlier, preeminent civil rights attorney and founder of the Southern Poverty Law Center Morris Dees will address the RWU Law graduating class in a separate ceremony on the Bristol campus.
This year, both Commencement ceremonies will be livestreamed on the web for those unable to join us on campus. The ceremonies will only be streamed in real time, and an archived version of the events will be made available via YouTube at a later date. Click here to watch Commencement 2013.
BRISTOL, R.I. – Did you know that Roger Williams became impoverished from his tireless quest to secure Rhode Island’s original charter, which confirms the state’s sovereignty and guarantees its citizens much more freedom than elsewhere in the original colonies and across the ocean in Europe? Rhode Island’s founding father – and this University’s namesake – believed so strongly in protecting basic civil liberties that he was chased out of England and banished from Massachusetts for his opinions, only to forge ahead despite great financial costs and risks to his own freedom to lead the charge of obtaining the most rights guaranteed a citizenry at the time.
BRISTOL, R.I. – For many students, the routine is the same. When class ends, a rush of hands grab backpacks and make for the door, head down stairs in herds and cross campus to the Commons. Once there, friends climb another flight of stairs, swipe student IDs and settle in for lunch. It seems simple enough.
But how does the process change for those students with accessibility challenges, whether confined to a wheelchair or requiring an assistive walking device? While RWU is an accessible campus in accordance with the Americans with Disabilities Act, the experience remains different from that of able-bodied students. To demonstrate the impact of the built environment in regard to accessibility issues, sophomore students from the School of Architecture, Art and Historic Preservation recently completed the third annual Wheelchair Exercise in an effort to internalize how accessibility regulations inform design.
BRISTOL, R.I. – It could be argued that every day at a university is a celebration of academic ardor. With that guiding sentiment, Roger Williams University is set to kick off a weeklong salute to students and their scholastic successes with first annual Student Academic Showcase and Honors (SASH) program.
“SASH is about celebrating student achievement and having their voices heard,” said Dean Peter Deekle, who serves as advisor to the Honors Program at RWU in addition to his duties as head of the University Library.
John M. Barry, prize-winning author and biographer of Roger Williams, will address the Class of 2013 and receive an honorary degree during Commencement exercises. Larry Rachleff, acclaimed conductor and music director of the Rhode Island Philharmonic Orchestra, will also receive an honorary degree. This event is not open to the public; tickets are required.
