Convocation

Friday, October 2, 2009
Littlefield Concert Hall, Music Building
10:15 am

Convocation, a centuries-old academic tradition in colleges and universities around the world, is a ceremonial calling-together of professors, students, and other members of an academic community.
At Mills, Convocation formally marks the beginning of the academic year, honors the academic achievements of select students and faculty who are receiving special awards, recognizes students in the graduating class, and welcomes new students to campus. It also is an occasion to celebrate Mills’ alumnae and to acknowledge the contributions of outstanding organizations and leaders in the surrounding community.

The Convocation celebration begins with graduating seniors and faculty donning academic regalia, gathering for a breakfast reception, and proceeding to the ceremony. First-year students, sophomores, and juniors join their respective classes wearing their class color. Each class is assigned one of four colors based on the year of graduation. The Class of 2010 is green; the Class of 2011 is blue, the Class of 2012 is purple, and the Class of 2013 is red. The outgoing class shares their color with the incoming class, so the tradition continues every year.

Convocation will be held on Friday, October 2, 2009, at 10:15 am in the Littlefield Concert Hall, located in the Music Building. 10:00 am and 11:00 am classes are cancelled for the event.

Special Guest Speaker Ecological Activist Stephanie Mills

The Convocation speaker will be Stephanie Mills '69, who emerged as an ecological activist with her 1969 Mills College Commencement address, "The Future is a Cruel Hoax." In it, she boldly pledged to refrain from having children as a way to take a stand against overpopulation. The theme of taking personal responsibility for life on Earth remains central to Mills' work and writing, which includes the books Tough Little Beauties, Epicurean Simplicity, and In Service of the Wild.

Mills lives by the creed of bioregionalism, a term she admits is "clumsy but a good conversation-starter." Bioregionalism means harmonizing with the natural systems of the locations where we live by making choices that enhance our local ecology, economy, and culture—a necessary step to preserving the systems of Earth as a whole. Today's concept of environmental sustainability owes much to Mills and other bioregionalists.

Stephanie Mills is featured in the documentary film EARTH DAYS and is working on a biography of peace activist and community economics pioneer Robert Swann. She is also active in promoting a local alternative currency system in her community in an effort to encourage local trade while lessening the impacts of global commerce.

Stephanie Mills' Convocation Address