Correction appended.

Brandeis students should help define and build their community, University President Ronald Liebowitz told incoming midyears at the convocation ceremony on Jan. 13. The event marked the beginning of midyear orientation.

"What you learn during orientation will brighten the days to follow,” she told the midyear class,” Midyear Orientation Core Committee member Danielle Frankel ’17 said."

In his remarks, Liebowitz spoke about how he has gotten a chance to interact with students on a personal level through his weekly office hours and various events around campus.

Student, faculty and alumni loyalty to the University is one of the biggest markers Liebowitz said he has observed since becoming president in July. In particular, he cited an event held in celebration of Prof. Chris Miller’s (BCHM) career, during which the gathering of current and former students highlighted the “human connection one finds in the teaching and mentoring in his classroom and lab.”

Liebowitz added that he has observed a special “openness” among community members, especially as it pertains to making Brandeis a more inclusive space. However, he noted, “This passion for inclusion, openness and debate … should not come as a surprise. Brandeis’ remarkable and unique history — a history all of us need to learn and come to appreciate — is rooted in openness and inclusion, and came at a time when the norm on college campuses was quite the opposite.”

He ended his remarks by giving midyears a few suggestions for their time on campus, including “jump in, don’t hold back,” “learn and live the institution’s special history” and “help define and build the community you’re joining.”

Senior Vice President for Students and Enrollment Andrew Flagel took the podium next, also doling out some advice to midyears. “You will be tempted, but please know that you don’t have to do everything,” he said. “You don’t have to be perfect.”

There is also a sense of family at Brandeis, Flagel added. “You may only be students here for a few short years, but you will be alumni and members of the Brandeis family for the rest of your lives,” he said.

However, with all of the opportunities available on campus comes some responsibility, he cautioned. “You are already leaders. We want you to continue to push us and this institution further,” he said. “Seek to be the change that you want to see in the world.”

“One of our University leaders often quotes the scripture passage that says that ‘to whom much is given, much is expected,’ which I thought was from Spider Man,” he joked, adding, “Your talent is your power, and it gives us tremendous expectations that you will be part of the solution.”

Sydney Sahasrabudhe ’17, one of the three midyear orientation core committee members, then closed the ceremony, thanking the speakers and drawing upon her own experiences as a midyear to offer one last piece of advice.

“Forget the linear path that we are taught,” Sahasrabudhe said. “Your academic path is your own. Don’t be caught up with your graduation date; do college at your own pace. Be fluid with your hopes, your dreams and your time frame. Remember yesterday, explore today and bring in tomorrow.”

A previous version of this article said that the theme of midyear orientation was the “Light of Reason.” It was actually “remember yesterday, explore today, and brighten tomorrow.”