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2009-06-16 issue:

Graduates challenged to 'cultivate caring' caring'

One-hundred nineteen students graduate from Bethel College on May 24.

by Melanie Zuercher of Bethel College

Print Article

Mark McCormick, commencement speaker for Bethel College, North Newton, Kan., tackled what seems the looming issue for the class of 2009 in the United States: the economy.


Amber Goossen, left, and Cane Griffiths, touch the threshing stone before Bethel College’s 116th commencement exercises. Photo by Vada Snider.

But the career journalist deliberately gave his address a title—“The Caring Economy”—that could be read several ways, and he treated the topic with a twist that seemed to resonate with his audience. McCormick was speaking to the 116th graduating class of Bethel College on May 24, with ceremonies taking place for the second year in a row outdoors in Thresher Stadium.

This year a new ritual was added to commencement: touching a threshing stone, the same one freshmen touch as they are welcomed to campus at the first convocation.

Until earlier this year, McCormick worked for The Wichita Eagle, for which he had written a weekly column since 2004. He was recently named executive director of the Kansas African-American Museum in Wichita.

“I’m talking about the economy in terms of everything we spend—time, money, energy,” McCormick said. “How we do that reflects our priorities and our values.

“A caring economy,” McCormick said, “supports and promotes capitalism and also conscience. It stops opening more liquor stores in neighborhoods where violence is on the rise. It puts a check on predatory lenders and credit card companies. It provides health care for all those who are sick.”

McCormick said he is an example of the current economic downturn. Several months ago, he learned that his position at The Wichita Eagle was being reduced to half-time and that ultimately it would not survive budget cuts.

“I felt like a failure,” he said. “Then I learned that although I was a victim of an uncaring economy, people did care.”

A lesson he learned from reading author Mitch Albom, McCormick said, is that “relationships are the most important, not money or possessions. A caring economy is based on relationships.”

“The world needs you,” he said to the graduates. “The city needs you. A friend needs you. No matter what your major or your training—the abandoned child and the mother who abandoned him need you to cultivate caring. That is broader than investments and portfolios and vaster than the Federal Reserve.”

As they crossed the stage to receive their diplomas, several students expressed their appreciation to McCormick for his remarks.

Bethel president Barry Bartel conferred 40 bachelor of arts and 79 bachelor of science degrees. Fifty-three of the graduates plan to enter health- and social service-related careers, 15 business and seven education. At least four will follow a Bethel tradition of taking voluntary service assignments.

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