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CAPTIONING PROVIDED BY BEAUFORT COUNTY OF THE UNIVERSITY MACE, THE UNIVERSITY MACE, THE UNIVERSITY MACE PARTY, THE UNIVERSITY DEGREE CANDIDATES,[00:06:39]
THE UNIVERSITY FACULTY, THE UNIVERSITY OFFICIALS AND GUESTS, THE TRUSTEES OF THE COLLEGE OF BEAUFORT, 1795, REPRESENTED BY MR. CHARLES AMAR, JR.PRESIDENT, THE UNIVERSITY OF SOUTH CAROLINA BOARD OF TRUSTEES, THE CHANCELLOR OF THE UNIVERSITY OF SOUTH CAROLINA OF BUFORT, DR.
AL M, THE PRESIDENT OF THE UNIVERSITY
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OF SOUTH CAROLINA.HARRIS, PLEASE REMAIN STANDING FOR THE NATIONAL ANTHEM.
JOHN BLACK DELIVERS THE INVOCATION, LET US PRAY.
WE HAVE GATHERED TOGETHER TODAY TO MARK AND CELEBRATE A PIVOTAL DAY IN THE LIVES OF OUR GRADUATES, OF OUR FAMILIES, OF THIS INSTITUTION, OF OUR NATION, AND OF OUR WORLD.
THIS CLASS, THE CLASS OF 2022, HAS BEEN TRIUMPHANT IN PURSUING AND OBTAINING THEIR VARIOUS DEGREES AND CERTIFICATES FOR ANYONE.
THIS WOULD BE A TREMENDOUS ACHIEVEMENT.
HOWEVER, IN THE FACE OF A PANDEMIC, NATIONAL WARS, SOCIAL UPHEAVAL, POLITICAL PARTISANISM, AND CHAOTIC FINANCIAL MARKETS, THEIR ACHIEVEMENTS APPEAR TO BE MIRACULOUS.
HISTORY WILL RECORD THIS DAY AND THIS CLASS AS A WITNESS TO THE COURAGE, TENACITY, AND FAITH OF THE HUMAN SPIRIT AGAINST TREMENDOUS ODDS.
THEY WROTE PAPERS, COMPLETED ASSIGNMENTS, EMBRACED NEW TECHNOLOGY, ADOPTED NEW NORMS FOR SOCIAL INTERACTING, AND MOST IMPORTANTLY, THEY GOT THE JOB DONE AS THEY GRADUATE.
TODAY, I PRAY THAT THIS UNIQUE CLASS WHICH HAS FACED SO MANY UNIQUE CHALLENGES WILL BE A SEED FOR OUR GREAT NATION THAT WILL PRODUCE A HARVEST OF EXCELLENCE WITHOUT EXCUSE.
AS WE MARK THIS PIVOTAL DAY, WE INVITE YOU, THE INTERNAL GOD, INTO OUR MIDST COLLECTIVELY.
LET ALL THAT WE DO THIS DAY BRING YOU GREAT GLORY COLLECTIVELY.
LET THE WORDS OF OUR MOUTHS AND THE MEDITATION OF OUR HEARTS BE ACCEPTABLE IN THE EYESIGHT, OH GOD, OUR STRENGTH AND OUR CREATOR.
GREETINGS TO THE CLASS OF 2022 AND TO YOUR PARENTS, FAMILY MEMBERS, AND FRIENDS WHO
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ARE HERE TO CELEBRATE THIS WONDERFUL MILESTONE IN YOUR LIVES.GREETINGS TO THE UNIVERSITY OF SOUTH CAROLINA, BEAUTIFUL FACULTY AND STAFF.
THIS DAY IS POSSIBLE BECAUSE OF YOUR INCREDIBLE PROFESSIONALISM, HARD WORK, AND DEDICATION TO STUDENTS.
I THANK YOU TO OUR DISTINGUISHED GUESTS, UH, SPEAKER MR. COL, MR. COLEMAN PETERSON AND HIS WIFE, MRS. SPEECHES PETERSON, OUR HONORARY DEGREE RECIPIENT, THE HONORABLE WILLIAM HERSMAN, THE REVEREND DOCTOR, BLACK PASTOR OF CAMPBELL CHAPEL AME CHURCH, DR.
C DAWN SMITH, CHAIR OF THE UNIVERSITY OF SOUTH CAROLINA SYSTEM, BOARD OF TRUSTEES, TRUSTEES, ALEX ENGLISH, RICHARD JONES, ROSE BIKE NEWTON, DR.
L CAMERON HOWELL, SECRETARY OF THE BOARD OF TRUSTEES, DR.
SUSAN ELKINS, CHANCELLOR OF PALMETTO COLLEGE, MR. J DURHAM COLE, VICE PRESIDENT FOR SYSTEM AFFAIRS AND UNIVERSITY OF SOUTH CAROLINA SYSTEM ENTERING PRESIDENT DR.
AND FIRST LADY, MRS. PATRICIA MOORE.
PAST TO ALL OF YOU, MY DEAR WIFE JUDITH, AND I WELCOME YOU TO THE LOW COUNTRY AND PROUDLY INTRODUCE YOU TO THIS REGION'S CROWN JEWELS, THE AMAZING STUDENTS OF THE UNIVERSITY OF SOUTH CAROLINA BEAUFORT.
AS I LOOK OUT AT YOUR BEAMING FACES RIGHT NOW, I FEEL A SENSE OF RELIEF, A SENSE OF HOPE, AND A SENSE OF GRATITUDE THAT WE ARE BACK AFTER VIRTUAL COMMENCEMENT IN 2020 AND FIVE, INDOOR HEAVILY MASKS COMMENCEMENTS IN 2021.
WE MAY ALL HAVE WONDERED WHEN THIS DAY, THIS WAY OF LIVING WOULD BE RETURNED TO US.
MOST OF YOU IN A CLASS OF 2022 WERE SOPHOMORE WHEN A ONE WEEK SPRING BREAK BECAME A DISJUNCTIVE MARKER IN WORLD HISTORY.
EVERYTHING CHANGED AND YOU ADAPTED BRILLIANTLY.
THERE WAS NO ROADMAP FOR NAVIGATING UNIVERSITY LIFE IN COVID ERA.
BUT OVER THESE LAST TWO YEARS, YOU HAVE MASTERED AND PARALLEL INGENUITY, RESOURCEFULNESS, AND DETERMINATION TO FORGE NEW PATHWAYS TO SUCCESS.
WE COMMEND YOU AND WE ARE SO PROUD OF YOU TODAY.
YOU STAND ON THE THRESHOLD SEEMINGLY BETWEEN TWO WORLDS.
THE HARDSHIP OF FINDING YOUR WAY HERE LIES BEHIND, AND THE BRILLIANT NEW FUTURE LIES AHEAD.
I WISH SO MUCH THAT I COULD TELL YOU THAT THERE ARE ONLY BLUE SKIES AHEAD, THAT THE EXHAUSTING TRIALS AND HEARTBREAKING LOSSES OF THE LAST TWO YEARS ARE TRULY OVER, THAT THE PANDEMIC ITSELF IS TRULY OVER THE NEED TO MOVE FORWARD TO BREAK FREE FROM UNCERTAINTY, DISCOMFORT, AND PAIN IS ALL TOO HUMAN.
YOU HAVE FOUGHT HARD TO BE HERE, AND THIS TIME OF CELEBRATION IS YOUR REWARD.
TODAY WE REJOICE FOCUSING ON ALL YOU HAVE ACCOMPLISHED ALREADY AND ALL YOU WILL ACHIEVE THROUGHOUT LIVES OF MEANINGFUL LEADERSHIP AND SERVICE.
NOW, AS YOU MOVE FORWARD, YOU MAY BE TEMPTED TO REMEMBER ONLY GOOD TIMES TO SIMPLY PUT TRYING TIMES BEHIND
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YOU.HOWEVER, FAILING TO REMEMBER, FAILING TO ACTIVELY APPLY THE LESSONS AND WISDOM OF HISTORY TO THE FUTURE HAS ITS OWN PERILS.
TWO YEARS AGO, A VA, A VIRUS THAT COULD BRING THE WORLD TO ITS KNEES SEEMED POSSIBLE ONLY IN A PRIOR CENTURY, MUCH LIKE THE ARM PROVOKED INVASION OF A SOVEREIGN COUNTRY IN EUROPE OR NORTH AMERICA.
ERICA, THREE GENERATIONS FROM THE ATROCITIES OF ADOLF HITLER.
ALMOST TWO GENERATIONS FROM THE FALL OF THE BERLIN WALL, AND NEARLY ONE GENERATION FROM NINE 11, EVEN AS FELLOW AMERICANS IN UNIFORM FOUGHT BRAVELY IN THE MIDDLE EAST AND OVER PARTS OF THE WORLD, WE HAD THE LUXURY HERE TO EXPECT RELATIVE PEACE AND PROSPERITY IN A WAY THAT WE EXPECT THE SUN TO RISE EACH MORNING AND THE MOON TO SHINE EACH NIGHT.
BUT WITH THE VIOLENCE IN UKRAINE, WE HAVE BEEN SOMEWHAT SHOCKED OUT OF OUR ASSUMPTIONS, AND WE BEAR WITNESS NOT TOO UNPRECEDENTED SUFFERING, BUT MORE PAINFULLY TO SUFFERING, FOR WHICH THERE ARE A MULTITUDE OF TRAGIC HISTORICAL WARNINGS AND PRECURSORS.
IN ANCIENT ROMAN MYTHOLOGY, JANUS WAS THE GOD OF DOORWAYS, THRESHOLDS, AND TRANSITIONS.
HE WATCHED OVER BEGINNINGS AND ENDINGS, THE PASSING OF ONE ERA INTO THE NEXT, HENCE THE MONTH MARKING THE START OF EACH YEAR.
BUT WHAT IS MOST INTERESTING ABOUT GS IS THAT HE'S DEPICTED WITH TWO FACES.
ONE, YOU FALL AND FRESH THAT LOOKS FORWARD.
LOOKING BACK, THE ROMANS UNDERSTOOD THAT WE CANNOT CREATE INSPIRED, INNOVATIVE, AND SECURE FUTURES.
IF WE IGNORE THE LESSONS AND THE WISDOM OF THE PAST.
WE CANNOT SIMPLY PUT THE PAST BEHIND US, TAKE OFF OUR MASKS AND PRETEND THAT NOTHING HAS HAPPENED AND WE CANNOT TURN AWAY FROM SUFFERING OUR OWN OR DEAD OF PEOPLE THOUSANDS OF MILES AWAY.
LEADERSHIP REQUIRES US TO BRING THE WISDOM OF HISTORY INTO THE FUTURE.
EXPERIENCE IS NEVER QUICKSAND.
NO A MUD TOO DEEP TO GET THROUGH.
IT IS THE RICHEST SOIL UPON WHICH TO TILL YOUR BEST LIVES.
IN THESE LAST YEARS, YOU HAVE BRAVELY CONFRONTED UNTOLD CHALLENGES, AND YOU STAND HERE TODAY TRIUMPHANT READY TO CROSS THIS THRESHOLD, THIS STAGE WHERE US CB'S, FACULTY AND STAFF AND OUR DISTINGUISHED GUEST STAND PROUDLY TO WELCOME YOU TO THE FAMILY OF BACHELOR'S AND MASTER'S DEGREE HOLDERS AND TO THE FAMILY OF ALUMNI OF THE UNIVERSITY OF SOUTH CAROLINA, BEAUFORT JANUS, THE ROMAN GUARD WITH TWO FACES ALSO ALWAYS HOLD KEYS TO THE DOORWAYS BETWEEN WHAT IS AND WHAT WILL COME.
THOSE KEYS ARE PLACED IN YOUR HANDS TODAY.
THOSE KEYS ARE EVERYTHING YOU HAVE LEARNED IN YOUR YEARS OF STUDY.
THOSE KEYS ARE KNOWLEDGE, SKILLS, RESOURCEFULNESS, CREATIVITY, DETERMINATION, AND CHARACTER CERTAINLY, BUT ALSO EXPERIENCE AND THEREFORE WISDOM.
USE THEM THROUGHOUT YOUR LIVES TO UNLOCK DOORS
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OF OPPORTUNITY FOR YOURSELVES AND FOR OTHERS.I HOPE YOU WILL CONSIDER A LONG LIFE'S JOURNEY.
THERE WILL BE TIMES LIKE THESE LAST TWO YEARS WHEN THERE IS NO ROADMAP WHEN MOVING FORWARD, SEEMS IMPOSSIBLE WHEN HAPPINESS SEEMS COMPLETELY OUT OF REACH.
HERE I OFFER A COAT FROM CLASSIC SCREEN ACTOR JOHN BARRYMORE WHO SAID HAPPINESS OFTEN SNEAKS IN THROUGH A DOOR YOU DIDN'T KNOW YOU LEFT OPEN.
DON'T CLOSE YOURSELVES OFF TO POSSIBILITY.
DON'T DISCOUNT OR DISMISS PEOPLE OR OPPORTUNITIES OUT OF HAND.
USE THE KEYS IN HAND TO KEEP DOORS OPEN, RECOGNIZING THAT HAPPINESS IS NOT ALWAYS FOUND IN GETTING SOMETHING YOU LONG FOR, BUT IN FEELING GRATITUDE FOR SOMETHING YOU ALREADY HAVE.
DON'T RUN FROM CHALLENGES AND UNCERTAINTY.
DON'T TURN A BLIND EYE TO SUFFERING.
EMBRACE THEM BOLDLY AND BRAVELY BECAUSE YOU HAVE ALREADY PROVEN THAT YOU HAVE THE INGENUITY, CONFIDENCE, AND GRIT TO CUT THROUGH ANY TANGLE OF CIRCUMSTANCES, TO FIND OR DESIGN DOORWAYS THAT INNOVATE BASED ON EXPERIENCE.
ON BEHALF OF THE FULL FACULTY AND STAFF OF OUR BELOVED U S C B, I TELL YOU THAT OUR HEARTS ARE BURSTING WITH PRIDE AND TO YOUR AMAZING PARENTS, FAMILIES, AND FRIENDS, YOU ARE THE HINGES ON EACH DOOR THAT OUR GRADUATE PASSED THROUGH.
THE STRONG, SHINY SUPPORT THAT HOLDS EVERY DOOR IN PLACE AND WITHOUT WHICH NO DOOR WOULD OPEN.
YOUR CONTRIBUTIONS ARE VERY MUCH PART OF THIS DAY WITH GREAT ADMIRATION.
WE CELEBRATE YOU AND THANK YOU FOR EVERYTHING YOU HAVE DONE TO MAKE YOUR GRADUATES DREAM A REALITY.
IN CLOSING OUR OFFER, THIS LAST COUNCIL TO THE ENTERPRISING CLASS OF 2022, YOU ARE ARCHITECTS OF YOUR OWN DOORWAYS AND YOU HOLD THE KEYS TO A BRIGHTER FUTURE AND A GREATER GOOD.
MY DEAR SAND SHARKS HOLD YOUR HEADS HIGH AND AGAINST ANY CHALLENGE.
IT IS A PLEASURE TO INTRODUCE SPECIAL GUEST SEATED SEATED ON THE PLATFORM SO THAT YOU WILL KNOW WHO THEY ARE AS YOUR NAME IS CALLED.
PLEASE HOLD YOUR APPLAUSE UNTIL ALL GUESTS HAVE BEEN RECOGNIZED FROM THE SOUTH CAROLINA LEGISLATURE.
REPRESENTATIVE WILLIAM G HERB KUMAN, PLEASE REMAIN STANDING FROM THE UNIVERSITY OF SOUTH CAROLINA BOARD OF TRUSTEES, THE HONORABLE C DAWN SMITH, THE HONORABLE ROSE BY NEWTON, THE HONORABLE ALEX ENGLISH, THE HONORABLE RICHARD JONES JR.
CAMERON, HOW IV SECRETARY OF THE BOARD OF TRUSTEES FROM THE UNIVERSITY OF SOUTH CAROLINA.
HARRIS PAST CHANCELLOR OF PALMETTO COLLEGE, DR.
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FROM THE BEAUFORT JASPER HIGHER EDUCATION COMMISSION.TIM PIERCE, THE CHAIRMAN FROM THE UNITED STATES MILITARY.
MR. DAVID LAR, MILITARY PERSONNEL AND PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT BRANCH, BRANCH HEAD.
AND FROM, UM, THE U S C B EDUCATION FOUNDATION, DAVID JOHNSON.
VERY GOOD FROM THE BEAUFORT COLLEGE TRUSTEES, MR. CHARLES AMAR.
THE TRUSTEES ARE HERE EACH YEAR AS A SYMBOL OF OUR REGION LONG-STANDING COMMITMENT TO HIGHER EDUCATION, WHICH DATES BACK TO THE FOUNDING OF BEAUFORT COLLEGE IN 1795 FROM THE UNIVERSITY OF SOUTH CAROLINA BEAUFORT, DR.
ERIC SKIPPER, PROVOST AND EXECUTIVE VICE CHANCELLOR FOR ACADEMIC AFFAIRS.
ANNA PONDER, VICE CHANCELLOR FOR ADVANCEMENT.
GORDON HEIST, FACULTY EMERITUS DR.
FACULTY CHA, UH, SENATE CHAIR.
LET'S RECOGNIZED SERVICE TO THE UNIVERSITY IS A TEAM EFFORT.
PLEASE JOIN ME IN RECOGNIZING MRS. PATRICIA MOORE PASTI, THE FIRST LADY OF THE UNIVERSITY OF SOUTH CAROLINA, AND MY WIFE JUDITH PANU, THE FIRST LADY OF THE UNIVERSITY OF SOUTH CAROLINA.
BEAUFORT, U S C B HAS AN EXTRAORDINARY GROUP OF TEACHER SCHOLARS WHO ARE COMMITTED FIRST TO TEACHING AND THEN TO RESEARCH AND SERVICE.
THEY INSPIRE, MOTIVATE, AND LEAD OUR STUDENTS TO DISCOVER POWERFUL FUTURES, UH, ON THIS EDUCATIONAL JOURNEY.
WILL THE UNIVERSITY OF SOUTH CAROLINA BEAUFORT FACULTY PLEASE STAND SO THAT WE CAN ALL RECOGNIZE YOU FOR YOUR COMMITMENT TO THESE GRADUATES EDUCATION? THANK YOU.
THE ACCOMPLISHMENTS OF OUR GRADUATES TODAY REFLECT THE SACRIFICES IT TAKES TO ACHIEVE THIS MILESTONE, BUT THOSE SACRIFICES ARE NOT THEIRS ALONE.
THEIR FAMILIES AND FRIENDS HAVE ALSO MADE GREAT SACRIFICES FOR GRADUATES TO REACH THIS DAY FOR THE ENCOURAGEMENT AND SUPPORT YOU HAVE GIVEN.
WOULD ALL OF THE FAMILIES AND FRIENDS STAND TO BE RECOGNIZED? CONGRATULATIONS TO EACH OF YOU.
PLEASE STAND TO BE RECOGNIZED.
FOR MORE THAN 200 YEARS, THE UNIVERSITY OF SOUTH CAROLINA HAS SERVED AS A FE A FAITHFUL INDEX OF THE AMBITIONS AND FORTUNES OF THE STATE.
WE WELCOME THE PRESIDENT OF THE UNIVERSITY OF SOUTH CAROLINA, DR.
THANK YOU CHANCELLOR PANNU, AND GOOD EVENING TO EVERYBODY HERE, U S C B CLASS OF 22.
IT'S FINALLY YOUR GRADUATION DAY.
HOW DOES THAT SOUND? TODAY IS MY LAST TIME TO CELEBRATE WITH YOU.
IN JUST A FEW WEEKS, THE UNIVERSITY OF SOUTH CAROLINA WILL HAVE A NEW PRESIDENT, MICHAEL AMERITAS, AND I'LL RETURN TO MY ROLE AS PRESIDENT EMERITUS.
SOUNDS LIKE A VERY FANCY TITLE, BUT IT DOESN'T MEAN ALL THAT MUCH.
SOMETHING LIKE FORMERLY IMPORTANT, SOMETHING LIKE THAT.
I GUESS THAT'S A JOKE BECAUSE I THINK WHAT IT REALLY MEANS IS IT IS AS MUCH AS I MAKE IT, IT'S AS MUCH AS I WANT IT TO MEAN WHAT DO I WANNA MAKE
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OF MY FUTURE? THAT'S THE SAME WITH YOUR DEGREE TODAY.THE CERTIFICATION ON YOUR DIPLOMA IS AS CLEAR AS THE BLUE SKY HERE, BUT THE MEANING OF YOUR DEGREE DEPENDS ON WHAT YOU DO WITH IT, HOW FAR YOU CAN TAKE IT, WHAT DO YOU WANT TO DO WITH IT.
IT'S AN EXCITING DAY HERE FOR ALL OF US, FOR YOU AND YOUR FAMILIES, AND IT'S ALSO AN EXCITING DAY FOR THE UNIVERSITY FAMILY.
WHEREVER I TRAVEL, I GET THE OPPORTUNITY TO TALK ABOUT ALL OF OUR WONDERFUL UNIVERSITIES.
I TELL PEOPLE THAT THE UNIVERSITY OF SOUTH CAROLINA IS DIFFERENT THAN EVERY OTHER UNIVERSITY IN THE STATE.
WE'RE A CONSTELLATION OF STARS.
13 UNIVERSITIES IN 20 LOCATIONS AROUND THE STATE, LIKE A BEAUTIFUL CONSTELLATION OF THE OUTLINE OF OUR BEAUTIFUL PALMETTO STATE.
AND TONIGHT WHEN YOU LOOK UP AT THE NIGHT SKY AND IT WILL BE A BEAUTIFUL ONE, LOOK FOR THE SH THE BRIGHTEST STAR.
MAYBE YOU WOULD CALL IT THE NORTH STAR, BUT TONIGHT THAT WILL BE CALLED UNIVERSITY OF SOUTH CAROLINA BEAUFORT.
TH THAT'S A FIGURATIVE WAY TO LOOK AT IT, BUT THAT'S WHAT I'M GOING TO DO TONIGHT.
YOU HAVE DONE TREMENDOUS THINGS DURING YOUR TIME HERE.
THE STUDENTS CONNECTED, UH, INITIATIVE, UH, THAT GUIDES WITH THE, UH, BEAUFORD FACULTY MEMBERS THAT GUIDES, GUIDES YOU IN PROJECTS THROUGHOUT THE LOW COUNTRY, IMPROVING THE QUALITY OF LIFE.
OUR FACULTY HAVE CONTINUED TO GARNER IMPRESSIVE, UH, STATEWIDE AND NATIONAL AWARDS.
UH, THE NEW NATIONALLY SYNDICATED P B S SHOW CALLED BY THE RIVER.
IF YOU HAVEN'T SEEN THAT, PLEASE DO.
AND USC BEAUFORT, BY THE WAY, WAS NAMED A TOP FULBRIGHT PRODUCING INSTITUTION FOR TWO CONSECUTIVE YEARS.
THERE ARE SO MANY OTHER FACTS AND FIGURES I COULD TELL YOU ABOUT, BUT LET ME RECITE 3,285.
THAT'S A GOOD NUMBER BECAUSE IN JUST A FEW MOMENTS, IT WILL REPRESENT ALL THE NUMBER OF STUDENTS THAT HAVE GRADUATED FROM THIS UNIVERSITY.
WHILE I'VE SERVED AS PRESIDENT THROUGHOUT THE ENTIRE UNIVERSITY OF SOUTH CAROLINA SYSTEM, BY THE END OF NEXT SATURDAY EVENING, THE TOTAL WILL HAVE BEEN 123,756 STUDENTS ACROSS 192 COMMENCEMENTS ACROSS THE UNIVERSITY.
AND THAT IN FACT IS MY GREATEST ACHIEVEMENT AND MY GREATEST SOURCE OF PRIDE.
BUT TONIGHT, IT'S ALL ABOUT YOU U S C B CLASS OF 22.
YOU ARE THE HEART OF U S C BEAUFORT.
YOU ARE THE HEART OF THE UNIVERSITY OF OF SOUTH CAROLINA.
GOOD LUCK AND GODSPEED TO ALL OF YOU.
PANU, I UNDERSTAND THAT YOU HAVE A CANDIDATE FOR AN HONORARY DEGREE, MR. PRESIDENT? YES.
I HAVE A CANDIDATE FOR THE HONORARY DEGREE OF DOCTOR OF PUBLIC SERVICE, THE HONORABLE WILLIAM J. WILLIAM G HERMAN, A CORNERSTONE IN THE LOW COUNTRY COMMUNITY OVER THE YEARS.
MR. HERB KUMAN IS A COMPASSIONATE LEADER WHO HAS BEEN A TRUE ADVOCATE AND HAS PLAYED A CRITICAL ROLE IN ADVANCING PARITY FUNDING FOR U S C B.
ADDITIONALLY, MR. HERB KURTZMAN IS COMMITTED TO CONSERVATION ECOLOGY IN A LOW COUNTRY AND HAS PARTICIPATED IN MANY EFFORTS TO BRING AWARENESS TO ENVIRONMENTAL ISSUES THAT IMPACT THE LOCAL COMMUNITY AND BEYOND.
WE PAY TRIBUTE TO MR. HERB KURTZMAN FOR HIS VISION, HIS TENACITY IN ADVOCATING FOR U S C B, HIS GENEROSITY WITH TIME, TALENTS AND TREASURE, AND HIS LONG-TERM SERVICE TO THE LOW COUNTRY COMMUNITY FOR HIS LEADERSHIP SERVICE TO THE PEOPLE OF SOUTH CAROLINA'S 118TH
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DISTRICT FOR HIS COMMITMENT TO CONSERVATION OF THE SOUTHERN LOW COUNTRY COASTAL ECOLOGY FOR HIS DEDICATION TO LIBERTY AND FREE ENTERPRISE, AND FOR HIS IMPASSIONED ADVOCACY FOR EQUITABLE INVESTMENT AND DEVELOPMENT THROUGHOUT THE STATE OF SOUTH CAROLINA, THE UNIVERSITY OF SOUTH CAROLINA WITH THE APPROVAL OF ITS BOARD OF TRUSTEES NOW PRESENTS WILLIAM GERALD HERMAN WITH THE HONORARY DEGREE OF DOCTOR OF PUBLIC SERVICE WILL REPRESENTATIVE HERB KURTZMAN.PLEASE COME TO BE ESCORTED BY CAMERON HOWELL AND ROSE BIKE NEWTON BY VIRTUE OF THE AUTHORITY VESTED IN ME BY THE BOARD OF TRUSTEES, ACTING ON BEHALF OF ALL THE PEOPLE OF SOUTH CAROLINA THROUGH THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE.
I HEREBY DO CONFER UPON YOU THE DEGREE DOCTOR OF PUBLIC SERVICE, TOGETHER WITH ALL THE RIGHTS, HONORS PRIVILEGES AND RESPONSIBILITIES TO THAT DEGREE, A PERTAINING CONGRATULATIONS, DR.
IT IS AN HONOR TO INTRODUCE OUR KEYNOTE SPEAKER FOR THIS EVENING, MR. COLEMAN H PETERSON.
MR. PETERSON IS AN ACCOMPLISHED CORPORATE EXECUTIVE WITH MORE THAN 30 YEARS EXPERIENCE IN A RETAIL, TRANSPORTATION, LOGISTICS, RESTAURANT, AND SERVICE INDUSTRIES.
MR. PETERSON HAS SERVED AS EXECUTIVE VICE PRESIDENT OF PEOPLE FOR WALMART, INC.
SERVED ON NUMEROUS CORPORATE BOARDS AND FOUNDED HOLLIS ENTERPRISE ENTERPRISES, LLC, A MANAGEMENT CONSULTING FIRM.
MR. PI PETERSON IS WIDELY WI WIDELY, SORRY, RESPECTED FOR CRITICAL STRATEGIC THINKING, TRANSFORMATIONAL MANAGEMENT, SEASON GOVERNANCE AND SUPPORT FOR EDUCATIONAL INITIATIVES.
AS PRESIDENT AND C E O OF HOLLIS ENTERPRISES, MR. PETERSON DEVOTES MUCH OF HIS TIME TO CORPORATE BOARD, FREQUENTLY SERVING AS LEAD DIRECTOR AND CHAIR OF COMPENSATION AND GOVERNANCE COMMITTEES AND SPEARHEADING C E O SECESSION PLANNING.
HE HAS SERVED ON THE BOARDS OF SERVICE MASTERS, JB HUNT TRANSPORT SERVICES INC.
BUILD A BEAR WORKSHOP AND CRACK A BARREL ALL COUNTRY STORE INC.
AS E V P OF PEOPLE, MEANING CHIEF HUMAN RESOURCE OFFICER AT WALMART.
MR. PETERSON PILOTED THE WORLD'S LARGEST PRIVATE WORKFORCE, HEMMED HUMAN RESOURCES DURING WALMART'S MOST AGGRESSIVE EXPANSION AND HELPED DIVERSIFY ITS WORKFORCE.
HE INITIATED INNOVATIVE RECRUITMENT, RETENTION STRATEGIES AND COMPLETED WALMART'S SECESSION PLANNING.
TODAY, WALMART IS THE COUNTRY'S NUMBER ONE EMPLOYER OF AFRICAN AMERICANS AND HISPANICS.
MR. PETERSON IS RECOGNIZED AS A COMMITTED COMMUNITY LEADER.
HE SERVED AS CHAIRMAN OF ARKANSAS'S SECOND LARGEST COMMUNITY COLLEGE DURING A PERIOD OF BUILDING AND EXPANSION.
HE HAS BEEN A BOARD MEMBER OF THE URBAN LEAGUE, THE AACP MERCY HOSPITAL, AND THE UNITED WAY CLOSER TO HOME.
MR. PETERSON IS PRESIDENT-ELECT OF HILTON
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HEAD ISLANDS VOLUNTEERS IN MEDICINE CLINIC AND SERVES ON THE BOARD OF UNIVERSITY OF SOUTH CAROLINA BEAUFORT EDUCATION FOUNDATION.HIS NUMEROUS HONORS INCLUDE S H R M'S, LIFETIME ACHIEVEMENT AWARD, THE NATIONAL ASSOCIATION OF AFRICAN AMERICAN IN HUMAN RESOURCES TRAILBLAZER AWARD, AND THE CHANCELLORS MEDAL FROM THE UNIVERSITY OF ARKANSAS.
FURTHER, MR. PETERSON IS LISTED AS ONE OF SEVO MAGAZINE, MOST INFLUENTIAL BLACK CORPORATE DIRECTORS, AND HAS AUTHORED THE BOOK HOW TO GET THERE FROM HERE AND AVID SUPPORTER OF YOUNG PEOPLE AND EDUCATION.
MR. PETERSON IS A MEMBER OF THE KAPA ALPHA SI AND SIGMA PI SIGMA PIFI FRATERNITIES, WHICH PROVIDE CAREER COACHING AND COLLEGE SCHOLARSHIPS.
MR. PETERSON HOLDS BACHELOR'S AND MASTER'S DEGREE FROM LOYOLA UNIVERSITY OF CHICAGO.
HE ENJOY ARTS, THEATER, GOLF, AND TIME WITH HIS WIFE OF MORE THAN 40 YEARS.
SHIRLEY PEACHES PETERSON AND THEIR TWO CHILDREN AND TWO GRANDCHILDREN.
PLEASE NOW JOIN ME IN WELCOMING MR. COLEMAN PETERSON.
YOU READ THAT EXACTLY AS I WROTE IT.
NO, SERIOUSLY, THAT WAS VERY KIND AND A VERY KIND, UH, INTRODUCTION.
ARE YOU GOOD? YOU KNOW, I ALWAYS LOOK FORWARD TO THESE COMMENCEMENT UH, CEREMONIES BECAUSE THERE IS NOTHING TO BE UNHAPPY ABOUT.
IT'S JOYFUL, OKAY? AND SO IT'S ALWAYS SO EXCITING TO ME, ALTHOUGH I HAVE TO, TO, TO OBSERVE SOMETHING, UH, WHEN, UH, THE SUPPORTERS AND FAMILY OF THOSE OF YOU WHO ARE GRADUATING, UH, WERE ASKED TO STAND SOME KIND OF STOOD A LITTLE BIT AND SOME, UH, REALLY DIDN'T.
BUT LISTEN, I'M GONNA TALK ABOUT THE GRADUATES LATER.
CAN I ASK THE FAMILY AND THE SUPPORTERS TO STAND UP AGAIN AND LET'S APPRECIATE THEM.
I DON'T KNOW ABOUT YOU GUYS, BUT, UH, WHEN I WAS GRADUATING, MY MOTHER AND FATHER SAYS, MOVE OUT OF THE WAY.
I'M STANDING UP AND I MIGHT NOT SIT DOWN.
PERU, THANK YOU SO MUCH TO THE UNIVERSITY OF SOUTH CAROLINA BOARD OF TRUSTEES, MEMBERS OF THE BUFORD JASPER HIGHER EDUCATION COMMISSION, MY OWN FELLOW U S C B EDUCATION FOUNDATION MEMBERS, AND OF COURSE THE U S C B ADMINISTRATIVE OFFICIALS AND THE DEPARTMENT CHAIRS.
THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR HAVING ME THIS AFTERNOON.
THIS IS REALLY A BIG DEAL AND A SPECIAL APPRECIATION TO THE HONORABLE.
WILLIAM HERB KIRSCHMAN, CONGRATULATIONS TO YOU AGAIN.
UH, AND I'M, AS I SAID, I'M HONORED TO CONGRATULATE AND CELEBRATE NOW WITH YOU GRADUATES, AND THE REASON WE'RE CELEBRATING YOU IS BECAUSE YOU DID SOME GOOD STUFF AND YOU MADE IT HAPPEN, BUT I WOULD SUBMIT TO YOU THAT IT GOES FURTHER THAN THAT.
WE NEED YOU, WE NEED YOU, AND I'M GONNA TALK MORE ABOUT THAT IN A MINUTE.
BUT, YOU KNOW, I WAS THINKING ABOUT, UH, THIS GRADUATE, UH, BECAUSE THIS IS A BIG DEAL.
I CAN REMEMBER THE STORY OF THIS YOUNG GRADUATE, ONCE HE GRADUATED IT.
AND AS THE STORY GOES, THIS YOUNG MAN HAD A GREAT SUPPORTER AND HIS UNCLE, AND SO AFTER HE GRADUATED, HE DECIDED TO TAKE A TRIP.
AND SO HE WAS TRAVELING DOWN IN MEXICO AND HE SAYS, I'VE GOTTA FIND SOMETHING REALLY SPECIAL FOR MY UNCLE, BECAUSE HE WAS SPECIAL, AND HE SUPPORTED ME IN SUCH A TERRIFIC WAY.
IT WAS A BIRD, IT HAD BEAUTIFUL PLUMAGE AND EVERYTHING, BUT WHAT MADE IT GENUINELY UNIQUE IS IT SPOKE SIX DIFFERENT LANGUAGES.
THIS IS EXACTLY WHAT I'M GONNA SEND BACK TO MY UNCLE.
AND SO HE VERY CAREFULLY PACKAGED IT, AND HE SENT IT BACK TO HIS UNCLE, VERY EXCITED, KNEW HE WAS GONNA HEAR SOMETHING GOOD, DIDN'T HEAR FROM HIS UNCLE.
SO AFTER A BIT, HE REACHED OUT AND CALLED HIM AND SAYS, UH, UNCLE, HOW ARE YOU? AND HIS UNCLE SAID, UH, WELL, I'M, I'M DOING GOOD.
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UH, DID YOU GET THAT BIRD THAT I SENT YOU? AND, UH, THE UNCLE SAID, YEAH.AND HE SAYS, WELL, WHAT DID YOU THINK? AND THE UNCLE SAID, WELL, IT WAS DELICIOUS.
THE YOUNG MAN SAID, WAIT, EXCUSE ME, UNCLE.
HE SAYS, WHAT? HE SAYS, YEAH, IT WAS DELICIOUS.
HE SAID, WE HAD IT WITH SOME SIDE COLLARED GREENS, SOME SWEET POTATOES, CORNBREAD.
AND THE STUDENTS SAID TO HIS UNCLE, HE SAYS, DON'T YOU REALIZE THAT THAT BIRD SPOKE SIX DIFFERENT LANGUAGES? THE UNCLE THOUGHT ABOUT IT FOR A MINUTE, AND THEN HE SAID, WELL, I GUESS IT SHOULD HAVE SAID SOMETHING
WELL, CONSIDERING THAT I'M SURROUNDED BY SUCH ACCOMPLISHED GRADUATES AND ALL OF THESE ASTUTE ACADEMICIANS ON THE STAGE, UH, I GUESS I'M OBLIGATED TO SAY SOMETHING.
AND WHAT I'M SAYING, FIRST AND FOREMOST IS CONGRATULATIONS TO YOU AND THE HEELS THAT YOU'VE CLIMBED AND WHAT YOU HAVE ACCOMPLISHED.
YOU KNOW, THE CONCEPT OF EDUCATION IN AMERICA, WE KIND OF THINK ABOUT THE FACT THAT IT WAS ALWAYS HERE, BUT IT WASN'T ALWAYS HERE.
AS A MATTER OF FACT, AT THE END OF WORLD WAR II, AS WE WERE COMING OUT OF THE END OF WORLD WAR II, AROUND 19 40, 19 45, ONLY 4.6% OF AMERICANS HAD A COLLEGE EDUCATION.
ONLY 4.6% OF AMERICANS ACTUALLY HAD A COLLEGE EDUCATION.
NOW, WHEN WE BRING THAT TO THE YEAR 2019, APPROXIMATELY 40 TO 41% OF AMERICANS HAVE A COLLEGE EDUCATION.
AS A MATTER OF FACT, THE PROJECTION SAYS THAT BY THE YEAR 2040, 60% OF AMERICANS WILL HAVE A COLLEGE EDUCATION.
THEN I GOT THE THINKING ABOUT SOMETHING THAT I READ AND HAS ALWAYS STAYED WITH ME EVER SINCE I ACTUALLY READ IT, UH, IN MY CLASS.
AND I, YEAH, I DID ACTUALLY SHOW UP FOLKS.
UM, AND IT WAS A TREATISE DONE BY A CHRIST, A BY A CATHOLIC THEOLOGIAN, BY THE NAME OF CARDINAL NEWMAN.
AND I'M SURE MOST OF THE FOLKS UP ON THIS STAGE ARE PROBABLY FAMILIAR WITH IT.
BUT HE WROTE A TREATISE CALLED THE IDEA OF A UNIVERSITY, THE IDEA OF A UNIVERSITY.
AND I LOVED IT BECAUSE, UH, AND I'M ONLY BOILING IT DOWN TO MY, UH, READER'S DIGEST VERSION OF IT CUZ IT WAS PRETTY ASTUTE.
BUT I DO KNOW THAT HE HAD THREE TAKEAWAYS WHEN HE TALKED ABOUT THE IDEA OF A UNIVERSITY.
THE FIRST IDEA, HE SAYS, THE ACCOMPLISHMENT OF EDUCATION IN A UNIVERSITY IS FOR THE KNOWLEDGE ITSELF, THE LOVING OF THE UNIVERSE, AND EXPANDING ON WHAT IT IS THAT WE KNOW.
AND I HAVE TO TELL YOU BY LISTENING TO SOME OF THE E THE INFORMATION THAT DR.
PERU GAVE US ON THE STAGE BEFORE WE CAME OUT, I KNOW WHO YOU ARE.
YOU HAVE ACCOMPLISHED AN AWFUL LOT OF THINGS.
CONGRATULATIONS TO YOU ON THAT.
THE SECOND WAS THE ABILITY TO ACQUIRE A SKILL THAT TRANSLATES INTO THE WORKFORCE.
NOW, THEY DID IT IN A LOT MORE, UH, UH, PROFOUND WORDS, BUT BASICALLY IT SAID, UH, GET A JOB.
BUT THE THIRD ONE WAS THE ONE THAT HAS ALWAYS CAPTIVATED ME, AND I REFLECT ON IT SO OFTEN, AND IT IS THAT THE IDEA OF A UNIVERSITY IS TO DEVELOP A SENSE OF QUALITY AND VIRTUE AND A SENSE OF YOU AS A MAN OR A SENSE OF YOU AS A WOMAN, AND WHAT IS YOUR VALUE TO YOURSELF, TO YOUR FAMILY, AND TO THE COMMUNITY IN WHICH YOU SERVE THE QUALITY OF YOU AS AN INDIVIDUAL.
SO WHEN I THOUGHT ABOUT THAT, AND I'M SAYING, OKAY, 60% OF AMERICANS ARE GONNA HAVE A COLLEGE EDUCATION, EXACTLY.
HOW WILL THAT IMPACT OUR COMMUNITY? HOW WILL IT IMPACT OUR STATE? HOW WILL IT IM IMPACT OUR COUNTRY? THE ONGOING CHALLENGES TO ASSURE AS WE GO THROUGH THAT IS ENJOYING THE ACCESS AND THE BENEFIT THAT WE ARE CELEBRATING TODAY.
BUT THE QUESTION IS, IS EVERYONE ENJOYING OR HAVING ACCESS TO THAT? I TOOK A LOOK AT SOME NUMBERS, AND IT WAS INTERESTING TO NOTE THAT EVEN TODAY, UH, IN AMERICA, AND THIS IS A NATIONAL NUMBER IN TERMS OF THE PERCENT OF THOSE THAT ARE GOING THROUGH THEIR COLLEGE EDUCATION, 72% OF WHITE STUDENTS HAVE FINISHED WITHIN SIX YEARS.
56% OF HISPANICS HAVE AND 46% OF THE BLACK HAT.
BY THE WAY, I WAS PLEASED TO HEAR FROM OUR OWN CHANCELLOR OF HOW WELL WE'RE PERFORMING IN TERMS OF OUR
[00:55:01]
MINORITY STUDENTS HERE.BUT WHEN I GET INTO THIS TOPIC OF DIVERSITY AND INCLUSION, IT MARRIES SO STRONGLY IN MY MIND WITH THE IDEA OF A UNIVERSITY AND WHAT SHOULD THE TAKEAWAY BE ONCE WE COME OUT OF THIS FOUR YEARS OF EDUCATION.
I HAVE A NOR I HAVE A NINE YEAR OLD GRANDSON, AND APPARENTLY HE MUST HAVE BEEN WALKING BY THE TELEVISION, ONE OF THE CABLE STATIONS WHEN THEY WERE TALKING ABOUT THIS ISSUE OF DIVERSITY AND INCLUSION.
AND SO HE SAID TO ME, PAPA, HE SAYS, WHAT IS DIVERSITY AND INCLUSION? I SAID, WELL, I SAID, UM, I SAID, FIRST OF ALL, I SAID, YOU PROBABLY DEFI DEFINE YOURSELF.
I WOULD DEFINE YOU AS A PERSON OF, OF DIVERSITY.
AND HE SAYS, WHAT DO YOU MEAN PAPA? I SAYS, WELL, YOUR MOM OBVIOUSLY IS AFRICAN AMERICAN.
WHAT? YOUR DAD WAS RAISED IN GLASGOW AND EDUCATED IN THE UK SO HE'S SCOTTISH.
AND SO I CALL YOU MY LITTLE AFRO SCOTT
BECAUSE EACH TIME I LOOK AT A GRADUATING CLASS, I ASK MYSELF, I NEED THEM BECAUSE CAN THEY, AND WILL THEY BE A PARTNER IN HOW WE IMPACT THE WORLD IN TERMS OF THE SENSE OF WHO OUR VALUES ARE? WHO ARE WE AND CAN WE CREATE A BETTER COMMUNITY AS A RESULT OF OUR COLLEGE EDUCATION? DR.
PURDUE'S LETTER TO YOU, AND I'M SURE YOU'VE READ IT BY NOW, IT SAYS THE ENTERPRISING CLASS OF 2022.
HE SAYS IT SO WELL WHEN HE SAYS THAT YOU HAVE BEEN TESTED AND YOU'VE MET ALL KINDS OF CHALLENGES THAT YOU'VE FACED.
BUT GUESS WHAT? THE FUND'S NOT OVER YET.
LET ME INTRODUCE TO YOU A VOCABULARY THAT I'M SURE YOU KNOW BY NOW.
FINTECH, CRYPTOCURRENCY, BITCOIN, CYBER CENTERS, INFLECTION POINTS, UBI, N F T, BLOCKCHAIN, METAVERSE, AND OF COURSE, IT WOULD NOT BE COMPLETE WITHOUT TIKTOK.
AND YOU'VE ARRIVED JUST IN TIME FOR THIS EXPERIENCE THAT EACH OF YOU ARE WALKING INTO, OKAY? AND I'M GONNA USE IT.
I'M GONNA CALL IT, IT'S CALLED THE RESIGNATION GENERATION.
YOU FAMILIAR WITH IT? YOU RATE IT EVERY DAY, THE RESIGNATION GENERATION, AND YOU'RE WALKING DIRECTLY INTO IT BECAUSE ALL OF THE DATA SAY THAT GEN Z ARE THE ONES THAT ARE LEADING THE CHARGE IN THIS NUDE THINKING AND THIS NEW APPROACH TO WHAT WORK LOOKS LIKE, OKAY? AND WHAT THE WORLD OF WORK WILL LOOK LIKE GOING FORWARD.
AS A MATTER OF FACT, IT'S REPORTED THAT, UH, THE GEN Z, AND BY THE WAY, FOR THOSE OF US WHO KIND OF GET CONFUSED ON THIS THING, THE GEN Z IS BASICALLY THOSE, UH, FROM THE AGES OF 18 TO 24.
UH, AND THEN THERE'S THOSE AHEAD OF YOU, GEN X, WHO ARE KIND OF LIKE 25 TO 39, BUT THEY'RE BLAMING, THEY'RE BLAMING YOU, GEN ZS, ON THIS WHOLE CONCEPT OF THE GENERATION, UH, RESIGNATION.
AND THEY'RE SAYING THAT YOU'RE LEAST SATISFIED WITH WORK, THAT YOU DESIRE GREATER FOCUS ON THE WORK LIFE ISSUES, THAT YOU BELIEVE THAT TECHNOLOGY CAN BE USED MORE EFFICIENTLY, AND THAT THE PANDEMIC HAS UNDERSCORED THE ENTIRE ISSUE.
WELL, WHAT DOES THAT HAVE TO DO WITH YOU? IN MY MIND? I THINK IT HAS EVERYTHING TO DO WITH YOU BECAUSE WE NEED YOU AS YOU GO FORWARD INTO THE WORLD OF WORK, YOU WILL DEFINE WHAT FUTURE WORK STANDARDS WILL BE.
YOU MAY NOT REALIZE THAT RIGHT NOW, BUT YOU ARE GOING TO BE THE ONES THAT ACTUALLY DEFINE THAT.
AND SHORTLY, BECAUSE YOU ARE BRIGHT AND WELL TRAINED, YOU WILL BE THE SUPERVISORS AND MANAGERS THAT DETERMINE COMPANY CULTURE.
YOU WILL BE THE SUPERVISORS AND MANAGERS THAT DETERMINE COMPANY CULTURE.
YOU WILL DETERMINE IF EMPLOYEES WANT TO GO OR STAY.
WHAT KIND OF VALUES HAPPEN IN THE WORKPLACE? WILL YOU TAKE WITH YOU REGARDING THE IMPORTANCE OF PEOPLE AND DIVERSITY AND THE QUALITY OF THE COMMUNITIES IN WHICH YOU WORK? YOU ARE IN CHARGE.
YOU'RE GONNA WRAP UP WITH A, A POEM THAT I USED TO READ TO, TO MY, UH, CHILDREN WHEN THEY WERE YOUNG.
AND BY THE WAY, THEY ARE NOW 35 AND ABOUT THAT AGE RIGHT NOW.
[01:00:01]
BUT THERE WAS A, A POEM THAT I LIKED AND IT WAS CALLED IF I WERE IN CHARGE OF THE WORLD.NOW, THOSE OF YOU WHO HAVE YOUNG CHILDREN CAN IMAGINE A LITTLE BOY, NINE YEARS OLD, HE'S OBVIOUSLY GOTTEN IN TROUBLE DOING THINGS.
AND SO NOW HE'S UNHAPPY SITTING ON THE FRONT STEPS, PROBABLY POUTING BECAUSE HE'S DONE SOMETHING AND HE'S SAYING, I WISH I WERE IN CHARGE OF THE WORLD.
AND WHEN I SAW THIS ONE, I LOVED IT.
AND IT GOES SOMETHING LIKE THIS.
IF I WERE IN CHARGE OF THE WORLD, I'D CANCEL OATMEAL, MONDAY MORNINGS, ALLERGY SHOTS, AND ALSO SARAH STEINBERG.
SHE'S OBVIOUSLY THE LITTLE GIRL DOWN THE STREET.
IF I WERE IN CHARGE OF THE WORLD, THERE'D BE BRIGHTER NIGHTLIGHTS, HEALTHIER HAMSTERS AND BASKETBALL BASKETS, 48 INCHES LOWER.
IF I WERE IN CHARGE OF THE WORLD, YOU WOULDN'T HAVE LONELY, YOU WOULDN'T HAVE CLEAN, YOU WOULDN'T HAVE BEDTIMES OR DON'T PUNCH YOUR SISTER.
YOU WOULDN'T EVEN HAVE SISTERS.
IF I WERE IN CHARGE OF THE WORLD, A CHOCOLATE SUNDAE WITH WHIPPED CREAM AND NUTS WOULD BE A VEGETABLE ALL DOUBLE.
OH, SOUTHERN MOVIES WOULD BE G AND A PERSON WHO SOMETIMES FORGOT TO BRUSH AND SOMETIMES FORGOT TO FLUSH WOULD STILL BE ALLOWED TO BE IN CHARGE OF THE WORLD.
WELL, AS I CLOSE OUT, I WOULD SAY THAT I KNOW NONE OF US CAN REALLY BE IN CHARGE OF THE WORLD, BUT I HOPE THAT YOU REALIZE IN SO MANY DIFFERENT WAYS THAT YOU REALLY ARE IN CHARGE OF THE WORLD.
AND IT BEGINS THE MINUTE YOU MOVE THAT TASSEL TO THE OTHER SIDE AND YOU WALK OUT BECAUSE EVERYTHING THAT YOU TOUCH CREATES THE GREATER UNIVERSITY.
CONGRATULATIONS TO YOU AND FINS UP.
WITH YOUR LIFE AND WITH YOUR WORDS, YOU HAVE CHALLENGED US TO THINK DEEPLY AND LIVE HONORABLY AND TO PURSUE OUR GOALS AND OUR LIVES WITH INTEGRITY AND COMMITMENT.
IN THE NEXT PART OF THE CEREMONY, THE DEGREE CONFER EACH DEGREE RECIPIENTS, FAMILY AND FRIENDS WOULD LIKE TO HEAR THEIR GRADUATE'S NAME READ AS THEY CROSS THE STAGE.
PLEASE HOLD YOUR APPLAUSE UNTIL THE LAST NAME IS READ.
YOU WILL HAVE PLENTY OF TIME TO CELEBRATE YOUR GRADUATE'S ACHIEVEMENT AFTER THE LAST NAME IS CALLED DR.
I'M EXECUTIVE VICE CHANCELLOR FOR ACADEMIC AFFAIRS OF UNIVERSITY OF SOUTH CAROLINA.
WILL NOW PRESENT THE CANDIDATES FOR DEGREES.
WILL, CANDIDATES FOR THE DEGREES PLEASE RISE.
MR. PRESIDENT, ALL CANDIDATES WHO STAND BEFORE ME AND OTHERS WHO CANNOT BE PRESENT, BUT WHOSE ACHIEVEMENT IS BEING RECORDED OFFICIALLY BY THE UNIVERSITY, HAVING COMPLETED THE REQUIREMENTS FOR THEIR RESPECTIVE DEGREES, ARE HERE WITH RECOMMENDED BY THE FACULTY OF THE UNIVERSITY FOR THE CONFERRAL OF THEIR DEGREES, BY VIRTUE OF THE AUTHORITY VESTED IN THE UNIVERSITY OF SOUTH CAROLINA BY THE PEOPLE OF THIS STATE ACTING THROUGH THEIR REPRESENTATIVES IN THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY AND ON THE BOARD OF TRUSTEES OF THIS INSTITUTION, AND ON THE RECOMMENDATION OF THE FACULTY, THE UNIVERSITY NOW CONFERS UPON YOU THE DEGREE FOR WHICH YOU ARE BEING RECOMMENDED TOGETHER WITH ALL THE RIGHTS, HONORS, PRIVILEGES AND RESPONSIBILITIES THERE TOO.
A PERTAIN CONGRATULATIONS TO THE GRADUATES AND THE CLASS OF 2022 AS THE CANDIDATES FOR THE DEGREES COME FORWARD.
PLEASE NOTE THAT SOMEWHERE GOLD CHORDS ON THEIR SHOULDERS, THE COURTS SIGNIFY DEGREES EARNED WITH LA ACADEMIC LATIN HONORS.
ALSO NOTE THAT SOME CANDIDATES WHERE A MEDALLION, THIS MEDALLION
[01:05:01]
REPRESENTS COMPLETION OF U S.CB'S BEAUFORT COLLEGE HONORS PROGRAM.
PANNU WILL NOW GREET THE UNIVERSITY OF SOUTH CAROLINA BEAUFORT DEGREE RECIPIENTS.
ANTONIO NOEL ESPINOZA, BACHELOR OF SCIENCE AND PUBLIC HEALTH.
CAMILLE HALEY MYERS, BACHELOR OF SCIENCE IN BIOLOGY.
DIAMOND MARIE ANDERSON, BACHELOR OF ARTS IN EARLY CHILDHOOD EDUCATION.
ALISON ELAINE HARLESS, BACHELOR OF ARTS IN EARLY CHILDHOOD EDUCATION, K*M LOUDY.
DAVID MATTHEW RASMUSSEN, BACHELOR OF ARTS IN EARLY CHILDHOOD EDUCATION.
NINA M CAMPBELL, BACHELOR OF ARTS IN ELEMENTARY EDUCATION.
MARILYN DAVEY, BACHELOR OF ARTS IN ELEMENTARY EDUCATION.
KAYLEE VICTORIA KUMAR, BACHELOR OF ARTS IN ELEMENTARY EDUCATION.
ANNA COLLEEN RICHARDSON, BACHELOR OF ARTS IN ELEMENTARY EDUCATION.
SAVANNAH NICOLE ADAMS, BACHELOR OF SCIENCE IN HOSPITALITY MANAGEMENT.
HARLEY LYNN BEAN, BACHELOR OF SCIENCE IN HOSPITALITY MANAGEMENT.
AUSTIN JACOB BERKHART, BACHELOR OF SCIENCE IN HOSPITALITY MANAGEMENT.
SIERRA MELANIE DENNY, BACHELOR OF SCIENCE AND HOSPITALITY MANAGEMENT.
CALLIE, ELIZABETH EVANS, BACHELOR OF SCIENCE AND HOSPITALITY MANAGEMENT.
QUEZ FOREST, BACHELOR OF SCIENCE IN HOSPITALITY MANAGEMENT.
SIDNEY M GREEN, BACHELOR OF SCIENCE IN HOSPITALITY MANAGEMENT MINUTES.
SAVANNAH GRACE GRIFFIN, BACHELOR OF SCIENCE IN HOSPITALITY MANAGEMENT.
DESTINY SHA HAM, BACHELOR OF SCIENCE IN HOSPITALITY MANAGEMENT.
KARNS WILSON HASLET, BACHELOR OF SCIENCE AND HOSPITALITY MANAGEMENT.
MICHELLE HERNDON, BACHELOR OF SCIENCE IN HOSPITALITY MANAGEMENT.
ABIGAIL LINEBERRY HOUSER, BACHELOR OF SCIENCE IN HOSPITALITY MANAGEMENT.
ANNA GRACE JOHNSON, BACHELOR OF SCIENCE IN HOSPITALITY MANAGEMENT.
BETHANY LAUREN MCDONALD, BACHELOR OF SCIENCE IN HOSPITALITY MANAGEMENT.
CLAYTON NORWOOD, BACHELOR OF SCIENCE IN HOSPITALITY MANAGEMENT.
MELINDA PENDER, BACHELOR OF SCIENCE IN HOSPITALITY MANAGEMENT.
SARAH VICTORIA RIOS, BACHELOR OF SCIENCE IN HOSPITALITY MANAGEMENT.
ALYSSA LEE STEEN, BACHELOR OF SCIENCE IN HOSPITALITY MANAGEMENT.
CHARLES JOE THOMPSON, BACHELOR OF SCIENCE IN HOSPITALITY MANAGEMENT.
K*M LADI MADISON BABE TOTE, BACHELOR OF SCIENCE IN HOSPITALITY MANAGEMENT LAW.
[01:10:01]
JANE TOTA ZINSKY, BACHELOR OF SCIENCE IN HOSPITALITY MANAGEMENT.MOLLY CHRISTINE YOUNG, BACHELOR OF SCIENCE IN HOSPITALITY MANAGEMENT.
CONNOR PATRICK BIRCH, BACHELOR OF ARTS IN HISTORY.
BRENDAN MICHAEL LINDSTROM, BACHELOR OF ARTS IN HISTORY, RACIAL.
ELIZABETH BAUSER, BACHELOR OF ARTS IN PSYCHOLOGY.
SHANNON MARIE CASWELL, BACHELOR OF ARTS IN PSYCHOLOGY.
MADISON CHINNI, BACHELOR OF ARTS IN PSYCHOLOGY.
CAITLIN M COOPER, BACHELOR OF ARTS IN PSYCHOLOGY.
MADISON HAM, BACHELOR OF ARTS IN PSYCHOLOGY.
KC NICOLE KIRK, BACHELOR OF ARTS IN PSYCHOLOGY.
KEISHA HOPE, MANDIGO, BACHELOR OF ARTS IN PSYCHOLOGY.
MELISSA MARIE MARBEL, BACHELOR OF ARTS IN PSYCHOLOGY.
ARIANA RENEE MCNABB, BACHELOR OF ARTS IN PSYCHOLOGY.
REESE MCCLAIN, BACHELOR OF ARTS IN PSYCHOLOGY.
AARON MURRAY, BACHELOR OF ARTS IN PSYCHOLOGY.
K*M LOUDY MCKENNA, BAILEY NELSON, BACHELOR OF ARTS IN PSYCHOLOGY.
ALIZE PRYOR, BACHELOR OF ARTS IN PSYCHOLOGY.
BLAIR SPENCER PUTMAN, BACHELOR OF ARTS IN PSYCHOLOGY.
MORLIN RIDDLE, BACHELOR OF ARTS IN PSYCHOLOGY.
OLAY SWAN, BACHELOR OF ARTS IN PSYCHOLOGY.
MARSHA CHARADE, WHITE BACHELOR OF ARTS IN PSYCHOLOGY.
VICTOR KEITH COLLINS, BACHELOR OF ARTS IN SOCIOLOGY.
MEGAN GAIL EVANS, BACHELOR OF ARTS IN SOCIOLOGY.
RYAN CHRISTOPHER HUMBERT, BACHELOR OF ARTS IN SOCIOLOGY.
JORDAN RUTH MINK, BACHELOR OF ARTS IN SOCIOLOGY.
TAMARA CAMERON PVIS, BACHELOR OF ARTS IN SOCIOLOGY.
AYANA ASHANTI ANDERSON, BACHELOR OF SCIENCE IN BIOLOGY.
HEIDI MARIE BAKER, BACHELOR OF SCIENCE IN BIOLOGY.
ZIKO BACHELOR OF SCIENCE IN BIOLOGY.
BELLFIELD, BACHELOR OF SCIENCE IN BIOLOGY.
ETHAN W. BENNETT, BACHELOR OF SCIENCE AND BIOLOGY.
BE BACHELOR OF SCIENCE AND BIOLOGY.
[01:15:02]
BACHELOR OF SCIENCE AND BIOLOGY.SHANE MATTHEW CAREY, BACHELOR OF SCIENCE AND BIOLOGY.
LAUREN ADRIANNENE CARRINGTON, BACHELOR OF SCIENCE IN BIOLOGY.
CROSON, BACHELOR OF SCIENCE IN BIOLOGY.
KELSEY RYAN DONALD BACHELOR OF SCIENCE IN BIOLOGY.
YASMIN BERNAY DUKE'S, BACHELOR OF SCIENCE IN BIOLOGY.
SARAH NICOLE ELLIOT, BACHELOR OF SCIENCE AND BIOLOGY.
DYLAN ERICKSON, BACHELOR OF SCIENCE IN BIOLOGY.
JESSICA FAZEL, BACHELOR OF SCIENCE IN BIOLOGY.
WALTER GRIFFIN, FIN BACHELOR OF SCIENCE IN BIOLOGY.
TATIANA LA HUDSON, BACHELOR OF SCIENCE IN BIOLOGY.
JONATHAN LOGAN NEWTH, BACHELOR OF SCIENCE AND BIOLOGY.
EVAN ELAINE KUTA, BACHELOR OF SCIENCE IN BIOLOGY.
JA LILLY RE, HUNTSMAN ROSEMOND, BACHELOR OF SCIENCE IN BIOLOGY.
SKYLAR MARSHANT, BACHELOR OF SCIENCE IN BIOLOGY.
ALEXANDRIA MERCEDES MARTINEZ, BACHELOR OF SCIENCE IN BIOLOGY.
MARIA GIANNA MARTINO, BACHELOR OF SCIENCE IN BIOLOGY.
CLARISSA LYNN MCELROY, BACHELOR OF SCIENCE IN BIOLOGY.
I SHAMAYA MCKEEVER, BACHELOR OF SCIENCE IN BIOLOGY.
ALYSSA JADA MITCHELL WILLIAMS, BACHELOR OF SCIENCE IN BIOLOGY.
KAYLEE MAY PEELER, BACHELOR OF SCIENCE IN BIOLOGY.
ASHLYN NICOLE PEE, BACHELOR OF SCIENCE IN BIOLOGY.
K*M LOUDY CANE ROBINSON, BACHELOR OF SCIENCE AND BIOLOGY.
DANIEL NAEL SANCHEZ, BACHELOR OF SCIENCE AND BIOLOGY.
MICHELLE SIMBA, BACHELOR OF SCIENCE IN BIOLOGY.
DINA LOVISSA, STK, BACHELOR OF SCIENCE IN BIOLOGY.
PATRICIA THOMAS, BACHELOR OF SCIENCE IN BIOLOGY.
DANE K TOWNSEND, BACHELOR OF SCIENCE IN BIOLOGY.
BRIAN DEJA, NAY WILLIAMS, BACHELOR OF SCIENCE IN BIOLOGY.
ROBERT DEAN JIMENEZ, BACHELOR OF SCIENCE IN BIOLOGY.
JANICE GREEN, BACHELOR OF SCIENCE IN HUMAN SERVICES.
[01:20:01]
ELIZABETH HEWITT, BACHELOR OF SCIENCE IN HUMAN SERVICES.SHERRY D JONES, BACHELOR OF SCIENCE IN HUMAN SERVICES.
MEDINA LIA MARIE KING RICHARDSON, BACHELOR OF SCIENCE IN HUMAN SERVICES.
BRITTANY WISE, MAYFIELD, BACHELOR OF SCIENCE IN HUMAN SERVICES.
MS. SHAILA MCVIE, BACHELOR OF SCIENCE IN HUMAN SERVICES.
EMILY ALLEN MACKENZIE, BACHELOR OF SCIENCE IN HUMAN SERVICES.
OCTA MAIK MCQUEEN, BACHELOR OF SCIENCE IN HUMAN SERVICES.
MADISON, BRIANNA, NEW BACHELOR OF SCIENCE IN HUMAN SERVICES, KA.
DEAR PHILLIPS, BACHELOR OF SCIENCE IN HUMAN SERVICES, MAGNA K*M LOUDY.
EMILY RAY, BACHELOR OF SCIENCE IN HUMAN SERVICES.
AMANDA CISCO RECTOR, BACHELOR OF SCIENCE IN HUMAN SERVICES, MAGNA K*M LADI.
KRISTA SWAFFORD REDDING, BACHELOR OF SCIENCE IN HUMAN SERVICES.
OH, CASEY ELIZABETH RILEY, BACHELOR OF SCIENCE AND HUMAN SERVICES.
KAMI JENICE STRINGFELLOW, BACHELOR OF SCIENCE IN HUMAN SERVICES.
K*M LOUDY, SHAKIRA, JOYCE TURNER, BACHELOR OF SCIENCE AND HUMAN SERVICES.
K*M LOUDY TAYLOR, NICOLE TURNER, BACHELOR OF SCIENCE AND HUMAN SERVICES, K*M LOUDY.
KIMBERLY BIN YOUO WILKE, BACHELOR OF SCIENCE AND HUMAN SERVICES.
LADI LALA, SIMONE BROWN, BACHELOR OF SCIENCE IN PUBLIC HEALTH.
CIARA, PRISCILLA MONET BROWN, BACHELOR OF SCIENCE IN PUBLIC HEALTH.
TAYLOR KIANA BROWN, BACHELOR OF SCIENCE IN PUBLIC HEALTH.
TARSHA LASHAY, AIA BROWN, BACHELOR OF SCIENCE IN PUBLIC HEALTH.
ANNA LYNN GOBY, BACHELOR OF SCIENCE AND PUBLIC HEALTH, MAGNA K*M LOUDY.
DAWSON MCKAY, HARDEN BACHELOR OF SCIENCE IN PUBLIC HEALTH.
BAILEY ELIZABETH HEADLEY, BACHELOR OF SCIENCE IN PUBLIC HEALTH.
JORDAN LAMONT HOWARD, BACHELOR OF SCIENCE IN PUBLIC HEALTH.
STEPHANIE JEAN JOHNSON, BACHELOR OF SCIENCE IN PUBLIC HEALTH.
WARREN AUSTIN NEWBERRY, BACHELOR OF SCIENCE IN PUBLIC HEALTH.
ALEXIS ODOM, BACHELOR OF SCIENCE IN PUBLIC HEALTH.
SARAH MCKAYLA, RULE, BACHELOR OF SCIENCE IN PUBLIC HEALTH, MAGNA K*M LOUDY DANESHA.
DON TONY, BACHELOR OF SCIENCE IN PUBLIC HEALTH.
JANETA LIZ TRINIDAD TORRES, BACHELOR OF SCIENCE IN PUBLIC HEALTH.
IANA MARIE TRUMER, BACHELOR OF SCIENCE IN PUBLIC HEALTH.
[01:25:02]
CAITLIN MORGAN TUCK, BACHELOR OF SCIENCE IN PUBLIC HEALTH.MARIA WASHINGTON, BACHELOR OF SCIENCE IN PUBLIC HEALTH.
COLLEEN MARIE WATSON, BACHELOR OF SCIENCE IN PUBLIC HEALTH.
KAYLA MARIE WINK, BACHELOR OF SCIENCE IN PUBLIC HEALTH.
SIERRA NICOLE BELINSKY, BACHELOR OF ARTS IN PSYCHOLOGY.
THE TIME WE'VE ALL BEEN WAITING FOR WELL GRADUATES, PLEASE STAND YOU.
YOU ARE NOW GRADUATE OF THE UNIVERSITY OF SOUTH CAROLINA BEAUFORT.
YOUR STATUS, YOUR STATUS MUST BE MADE KNOWN TO THE ACADEMIC COMMUNITY.
PLEASE JOIN TOGETHER AND MOVE YOUR TASSELS FROM THE RIGHT SIDE OF YOUR MOTHER WARD TO THE LEFT SIDE.
OKAY, LADIES AND GENTLEMEN, LET'S GIVE OUR NEW GRADUATES ANOTHER ROUND OF APPLAUSE.
ANNA PONDER US CB'S VICE CHANCELLOR FOR ADVANCEMENT.
AND IT IS MY VERY GREAT HONOR TO INDUCT YOU INTO THE SAND SHARK SOCIETY, USS CB'S ALUMNI ASSOCIATION.
AS YOU TAKE YOUR PLACES IN THE BELOVED COMMUNITY OF U S C B ALUMNI, I ASK YOU TO READ NOW WITH ME THE ALUMNI PLEDGE.
IF YOU OPEN YOUR DIPLOMA COVERS, YOU'LL FIND IT INSIDE.
THIS IS YOUR LAST TEST AT U S C B.
OKAY, WOULD YOU STAND AND PLEASE READ ALONG WITH ME? I PROMISE NOT TO GO FAST AND THEN SLOW DOWN AND THEN SPEED UP AND SLOW DOWN.
WE ARE A COMMUNITY OF PEOPLE WHO SHARE THE U S C B EXPERIENCE.
WE COME TOGETHER TO SUPPORT EACH OTHER AS WE WORK TO ACHIEVE OUR GOALS AND NAVIGATE THE WORLD.
WE SHARE US CB'S ENDURING POSITIVE IMPACT ON OUR LIVES.
WE PROUDLY CARRY OUR EDUCATION AND VALUES WITH US IN EVERYTHING WE DO.
WE DEMONSTRATE THROUGH OUR EVERY INTERACTION HOW U S C B ELEVATES OUR LIVES.
WE STRIVE TO INFORM, INSPIRE, AND LIFT UP FUTURE GENERATIONS OF SAND SHARKS WE GIVE BACK TO KEEP DOORS OF OPPORTUNITY, OPEN WIDE INVESTING IN THE FUTURE OF OUR COMMUNITY, OUR REGION, AND THE WORLD.
AND MOST OF ALL, WE REMEMBER THROUGHOUT OUR LIVES SPEAK UP.
THIS IS HAL AND WHY WE ARE CALLED SAND SHARKS.
YOU'LL BELONG TO THE U S C B FAMILY FOREVER.
WELCOME TO THE SAND SHARK SOCIETY.
PLEASE, PLEASE BE IN TOUCH WITH US.
THANK YOU AND CONGRATULATIONS.
[01:30:11]
PLEASE STAND.AND THOSE OF YOU STANDING, PLEASE REMAIN STANDING AS DR.
BLACK LEADS US IN THE BENEDICTION.
FOLLOW BY THE FIRST VERSE OF THE CAROLINA ALMA MATER.
THE WORDS ARE FOUND ON THE LAST PAGE OF YOUR PROGRAM.
THE ALMA MATER WILL BE FOLLOWED BY THE RECESSIONAL OF THE PLATFORM PARTY, AND THEN THE GUESTS AND GRADUATES.
PLEASE REMAIN IN YOUR SEATED AREA THROUGHOUT THE RECESS.
RECESSIONAL, PLEASE JOIN OUR GRADUATES ON THE NORTH AND WEST LAWN OF THE SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY BUILDING AFTER THE RECESSIONAL ENDS TO VISIT WITH FRIENDS AND FACULTY AND FAMILY, OF COURSE, AND THANK YOU FOR CELEBRATING WITH US THIS EVENING.
RECEIVE THE BENEDICTION OF THE LORD.
MAY THE LORD BLESS YOU AND KEEP YOU.
MAY THE LORD MAKE HIS FACE TO SHINE UPON YOU AND BE GRACIOUS UNTO YOU.
MAY THE LORD LIFT UP THE LIGHT OF HIS CONTINENTS UPON YOU AND GIVE YOU PEACE BOTH NOW AND FOREVER.
[01:37:46]
IT'S CIVILIZATION VERSUS NATURE'S FURY.RAGING BLIZZARDS BURY CITIES UNDER THOUSANDS OF TONS OF SNOW.
HOWLEY HURRICANES TEAR APART COASTAL COMMUNITIES WITH WIND AND RAIN AND FLASH FLOOD TO WIPE ENTIRE TOWNS OFF THE FACE OF THE EARTH.
AS THE SKY'S CLEAR, PEOPLE BEGIN TO PICK UP THE PIECES.
BUT AFTER THE STORM, INSIDIOUS DAMAGE IS STILL BEING DONE.
OUR MOST VITAL NATURAL RESOURCES UNDER ASSAULT OUR NATION'S WATERS.
WE'RE AT THE CHATTAHOOCHEE NATURE CENTER AND WE'RE TRYING TO FIND OUT WHAT A WATERSHED IS.
FIRST VICTIM, I NEED YOU TO TELL ME WHAT A WATERSHED IS.
DO YOU HAVE ANY IDEA? WATERSHED.
A WATERSHED WHERE PEOPLE GO TO THE BATHROOM SWEATING, I GUESS SOMETHING TO DO WITH SWEATING.
WE WANTED TO ASK YOU IF, IF YOU KNEW WHAT A WATERSHED WAS.
IS IT KINDA LIKE THE RAIN? DO YOU KNOW WHAT A WATERSHED IS? A SHED THAT HOLDS WATER? COME HERE FOR A SECOND.
DO YOU KNOW WHAT A WATERSHED IS? NO.
DO YOU HAVE ANY IDEA? WHAT DO YOU THINK IT HAS SOMETHING TO DO WITH, UH, I DUNNO,
THAT'S JUST A DRAIN POOL, I GUESS YOU'D SAY, OR THE DRAIN AREA.
JUST WHERE THE WATER DRAIN WATER DRAINS INTO THE RIVER.
A WATERSHED IS THAT AREA OF LAND THAT DRAINS TO A BODY OF WATER, BE THAT IF IT'S A RIVER, A STREAM, THE OCEAN, AN ESTUARY, A BAY, WHEREVER YOU LIVE, DRAINS TO SOME WATER BODY AND YOU LIVE IN A WATERSHED.
SO EVERYONE LIVES IN A WATERSHED.
AND IN THIS MODERN INDUSTRIAL AGE, OUR WATER SOURCES ARE BECOMING MORE CONTAMINATED WITH EACH PASSING YEAR.
THE BIGGEST WATER QUALITY PROBLEM THAT WE HAVE IN THE NATION TODAY IS POLLUTED RUNOFF ALL WATER EAST OF THE CONTINENTAL DIVIDE DRAINS TO THE
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ATLANTIC WHILE WATER WEST OF THE DIVIDE FLOWS TO THE PACIFIC.AND ONE DROP OF RAIN CAN CROSS MANY DIFFERENT WATERSHEDS ALONG THE WAY.
AS RUNOFF FLOWS INTO RIVERS, STREAMS, AND STORM DRAINS, THE WATER PICKS UP TRASH, DIRT, BACTERIA, TOXIC CHEMICALS AND FERTILIZERS CREATING A SOUP OF POLLUTANTS THAT IS EXTREMELY HAZARDOUS TO THE ENVIRONMENT.
AND THE CONSEQUENCES OF POLLUTED RUNOFF EXIST WORLDWIDE.
THE UN ESTIMATE IS THAT THERE'S ABOUT A BILLION PEOPLE ON THE PLANET RIGHT NOW WHO DON'T HAVE ADEQUATE ACCESS TO FRESH WATER.
97% OF ALL WATER ON EARTH IS SALTY OCEAN WATER OF THE REMAINING 3% THAT'S FRESH OVER TWO THIRDS IS FROZEN IN GLACIERS AND POLARIZED THAT LEAVES LESS THAN 1% OF ALL THE PLANET'S WATER FOR OUR USE.
I PREDICT IN THE FUTURE THAT SOME OF THE US WATER NEEDS ARE GONNA COME THROUGH PIPELINE BECAUSE WE HAVE JUST OVERUSED OUR SUPPLY.
TO ADDRESS THE COMPLEX THREATS FACING US WATER RESOURCES, THE ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY RECOMMENDS ADOPTING A WATERSHED APPROACH.
WE'RE TRYING TO RECONNECT SOME OF THE, UH, RIVER.
IT'S A METHOD THAT LOOKS AT EACH WATERSHED FOR ITS OWN UNIQUE SET OF ENVIRONMENTAL CHALLENGES AND SOLUTIONS.
IN MANY CASES, PEOPLE MISTAKENLY IDENTIFY LARGE DISCHARGE PIPES IN THE WATER AS THE PROBLEM, BUT THAT MAY NOT BE THE PROBLEM.
IT MAY BE COMING FROM AGRICULTURAL RUNOFF.
IT MAY BE COMING FROM STORMWATER RUNOFF OVER PARKING LOTS AND IMPERVIOUS SURFACES.
EVERY WATERSHED IS DIFFERENT, AND YOU NEED TO LOOK AT EACH WATERSHED IN ITS OWN TERMS AND THEN THINK SYSTEMATICALLY ABOUT HOW YOU REMEDIATE, HOW YOU CLEAN UP THAT WATERSHED.
IN CALIFORNIA, THE SANTA MONICA BAY WATERSHED DRAINS A DANGEROUS AMOUNT OF POLLUTED RUNOFF AFTER EACH STORM.
WHEN IT RAINS, LITERALLY THE WHOLE RESIDUE OF URBAN LIVING ENDS UP GETTING WASHED INTO THE STORM DRAIN SYSTEM AND ENDS UP GOING STRAIGHT INTO THE BAY ON SANTA MONICA BAY'S BEACHES WITH NO TREATMENT WHATSOEVER.
IT'S ACTUALLY LIKE A GIANT TOOL THAT FLUSHING BECAUSE ALL THE POLLUTION THE DOG MESS HAS BEEN BUILDING UP AND BUILDING UP AND BUILDING UP.
WHEN IT RAINS, IT JUST FLUSHES INTO THE STORM DRAIN AND GOES DIRECTLY INTO THE, UH, THE SURF.
IN 1996, THE SANTA MONICA BAY RESTORATION COMMISSION PROVED THERE WAS A LINK BETWEEN THE CONTAMINATED RUNOFF IN THE SANTA MONICA BAY AND REPORTS OF ILLNESS AFFLICTING PEOPLE WHO SWIM THERE.
WHAT WE DID FIND WAS AT THE OUTLETS OF STORM DRAINS, NO MATTER WHERE THEY WERE UP AND DOWN THE BAY, IF THERE WAS A FLOW OF RUNOFF INTO THE SURF ZONE, THOSE PEOPLE THAT WERE SWIMMING IN THOSE AREAS, UH, DEFINITELY EXPERIENCED HIGHER INCIDENCES OF ILLNESSES.
THE POLLUTANTS IN THE WATER AFFECT SURFERS BECAUSE WE'RE ACTUALLY THE INDICATOR SPECIES WITH ALL THE POLLUTANTS.
UM, WHEN WE ARE IN THE WATERS, WE'RE INGESTING IT THROUGH OUR SKIN AND OUR MOUTH.
EVEN IF PEOPLE DON'T TAKE A SWALLOW OF WATER, IT'S STILL GETTING INTO OUR SYSTEMS, OUR EARS, ANY ORIFICE ON YOUR BODY AND IT CAUSES INFECTIONS.
IT CAN CAUSE, UH, COLD SORE THROATS.
I WOULDN'T WANNA SWIM IN, YOU KNOW, WATER THAT'S GOT THOSE DISEASES IN THERE, YOU KNOW, JUST FLOATING AROUND, MAKING MORE DISEASES.
I'VE SEEN IT PRETTY MUCH AS BAD AS IT CAN BE.
I'VE SEEN CRAP FLOATING OUT IN THE WATER.
LITERALLY, GENERICALLY, WE CALL IT FECAL COLIFORM.
MORE SPECIFICALLY, YOU MIGHT KNOW OF IT AS E COLI, SALMONELLA, OR IN INTERCOS, WHATEVER'S IN POOP.
THERE'S TIMES WHEN IT TASTES FUNKY, FOR SURE.
EVERY DAY THE CITY AND COUNTY OF LOS ANGELES PERFORM A BATTERY OF TESTS TO KEEP THE PUBLIC INFORMED ABOUT WATER QUALITY IN THE SANTA MONICA BAY.
CESAR ARZADON BEGINS THE MONITORING PROCESS EACH MORNING BY TAKING A SERIES OF COASTLINE WATER SAMPLES.
THEN IT'S BACK TO THE LAB FOR ANALYSIS.
MOST OF THE BACTERIA THAT YOU'RE GOING TO SEE YOU'RE GOING, IT COMES FROM THESIS.
AND WHEN YOU PUT IT UNDER THE UV LIGHT, YOU'RE GOING TO SEE A DIFFERENT KIND OF COLOR.
UH, IT, IT'S A FLUORESCENT, UH, SIGN THAT THERE IS IS A BACTERIA.
AND THEN WHAT'S IT'S CALLED E COLI.
THAT ONE DEFINITELY EATS, UH, FECES, UH, FROM ANIMALS OR IT COULD BE HUMANS.
ALSO, THE RESULTS ARE REPORTED TO THE HEALTH DEPARTMENT AND BEACH WARNINGS ARE POSTED AS NECESSARY.
THE NUMBER OF BEACH POSTINGS HAS DECREASED, AND 85% OF THE BEACHES THAT HAVE BEEN MONITORED IN CALIFORNIA THAT HAVE RECEIVED EITHER A OR B GRADES.
AND THAT'S SIGNIFICANTLY DIFFERENT THAN, UM, FOUR YEARS AGO.
BUT WHILE PROGRESS IS BEING MADE IN CALIFORNIA, THE HARMFUL EFFECTS OF POLLUTED RUNOFF ARE A GROWING CONCERN EVERYWHERE.
SO WHAT CAN THE AVERAGE PERSON DO TO HELP REDUCE POLLUTION IN OUR WATERSHEDS? HOW YOU APPLY PESTICIDES OR NOT IN YOUR GARDEN? HOW YOU WASH YOUR CARS, UH, MAKING SURE THAT, UH, YOU DON'T THROW CIGARETTE BUTTS OUT ONTO THE STREET.
DO NOT DUMP THINGS ON THE GROUND, ESPECIALLY OILS OR ANY CHEMICAL POLLUTANTS.
A LOT OF PEOPLE DON'T REALIZE HOW IMPORTANT THAT IS.
AND JUST BE A CONSCIENTIOUS CITIZEN AND, AND DON'T LEAVE ANYONE ON THE GROUND.
I THINK ONE PERSON CAN MAKE A DIFFERENCE AND, AND NEEDS TO MAKE THE DIFFERENCE.
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WE'RE HEADING FOR WHAT'S KNOWN AS AN ECOSYSTEM COLLAPSE.CAN THE GULF OF MEXICO BE SAVED FROM BLUE TO RUNOFF? IT WAS A FLOOD OF APOCALYPTIC SCALE.
26,000 SQUARE MILES OF THE LOWER MISSISSIPPI VALLEY INUNDATED BY WATER MORE THAN 200 LIVES LOST AND 600,000 PEOPLE DISPLACED FROM THEIR HOMES.
THE FLOOD OF 1927 WAS THE MOST DISASTROUS IN US HISTORY, AND ITS EFFECTS ARE STILL FELT TODAY.
AFTER THE FLOOD OF 27, MASSIVE LEVEES WERE PUT IN PLACE, AND WHILE THEY HELPED PROTECT THE LOWER MISSISSIPPI RIVER BASIN FROM FLOODING, THE LEVEES AND OTHER HUMAN ACTIVITIES WOULD ULTIMATELY HARM THE WATERSHED IN UNFORESEEN WAVES.
THE GULF STATE OF LOUISIANA IS THE TERMINUS OF THE MISSISSIPPI RIVER, THE MIGHTY WATERSHED THAT DRAINS 41% OF THE AREA OF THE LOWER 48 STATES INTO THE GULF OF MEXICO.
UH, WE RECEIVE WATER FROM AS FAR AWAY AS MONTANA, MICHIGAN TO PENNSYLVANIA, OHIO, IOWA.
ALL THOSE WATERS DRAIN RIGHT PAST THIS AREA RIGHT HERE.
BUT BY THE TIME ALL THAT WATER ENTERS THE GULF, IT HAS ACCUMULATED ENOUGH CONTAMINANTS FROM POLLUTED RUNOFF TO CREATE AN ENORMOUS HYPOXIC ZONE, AN AREA OF WATER LACKING IN VITAL OXYGEN.
THE SIZE OF THE LOW AUCTION ZONE IN THE GULF OF MEXICO IS ABOUT 9,000 SQUARE MILES.
THAT'S EQUAL TO THE SIZE OF THE STATE OF NEW JERSEY.
THE SHORTAGE OF OXYGEN IS KILLING FISH AND OTHER SEA LIFE AND COULD POTENTIALLY HAVE A DEVASTATING EFFECT ON THE REGIONAL ECONOMY.
WE ARE THE LARGEST NAVIGATION PORT IN THE UNITED STATES.
WE ARE THE SECOND LARGEST IN THE WORLD.
WE HAVE THE LARGEST FISHERY IN THIS COUNTRY.
WHEN WE WAS CRABBING, A LOT OF TIMES ALL OUR CRABS WE DID, WE CAN'T EVEN SELL 'EM.
THE REASON HYPOXIA SHOULD BE OF CONCERN TO MOST CITIZENS IN THIS NATION IS BECAUSE IT'S A SIGN.
IT'S A SIGN OF THE DEGRADATION OF OUR WATER RESOURCES.
WE ARE HEADING FOR WHAT'S KNOWN AS AN ECOSYSTEM COLLAPSE.
IF YOU'RE GONNA HAVE AN ECOLOGICAL DISASTER CAUSED BY THE OFFSHORE HYPOXIC AREAS, THEN THAT ABSOLUTELY TRANSLATES INTO AN ECONOMIC DISASTER.
SO WHAT EXACTLY IS CAUSING THIS DEAD ZONE IN THE GULF? HYPOXIA DEVELOPS WHEN AN AREA OF WATER RECEIVES EXCESS POLLUTANTS, PRIMARILY AN OVERABUNDANCE OF NUTRIENTS WHICH PRODUCE LARGE ALGAE BLOOMS THAT DIE OFF AND LEAD TO LOW OXYGEN.
AND SINCE THE MISSISSIPPI GETS FED BY TRIBUTARIES THAT FLOW THROUGH 31 STATES, THAT ADDS UP TO A STAGGERING VOLUME OF CONTAMINATED RUNOFF.
YOU HAVE DRAINAGE INTO THE GULF OF MEXICO FROM THE OHIO RIVER, THE MISSISSIPPI RIVER IN THE MISSOURI RIVER.
YET EACH OF THOSE THREE MAJOR RIVER SYSTEMS ARE WATERSHEDS IN AND OF THEMSELVES WITH THEIR OWN CHALLENGES AND THEIR OWN PROBLEMS. THE MISSISSIPPI RIVER HAS ALWAYS DELIVERED A LOT OF WATER, AND THAT HASN'T CHANGED OVER THE CENTURIES.
WHAT'S CHANGED IS THE AMOUNT OF NUTRIENTS IN THAT WATER.
IN FACT, THE MISSISSIPPI'S NITROGEN LEVELS IN THE LOWER MISSISSIPPI RIVER HAVE TRIPLED SINCE THE 1950S.
AND THE GROWING HYPOXIC ZONE OFF THE LOUISIANA COAST CONTAINS THE DISTURBING EVIDENCE.
IT'S LIKE A RUSTY COLOR, STINKY, ROTTEN LOOKING.
YOU SEE FISH JUST SWIMMING SIDEWAYS, GASPING FOR AIR AND STUFF LIKE THAT.
AND, UM, WHEN YOU PULL UP THE NETS, NOT IN ONE SHRIMP ALIVE, ALL DEAD ORANGE.
THE, UH, FISH, THEY, THEY ROTTEN LIKE MELTING AWAY AND STUFF LIKE THAT.
CAN'T BREATHE STUFF AND IT'S JUST ROTTEN.
THIS IS JUST A FACT OF, OF LIFE THE WAY WE TREAT OUR WATER SYSTEMS, BECAUSE WE USE THEM AS OUR GARBAGE DUMPS.
WE USE THEM TO DILUTE OUR POLLUTANTS AND THINGS LIKE THAT, AND IT FLOWS DOWNSTREAM.
I BELIEVE THE STATISTIC IS THAT IF YOU'RE IN NEW ORLEANS, THE WATER THAT IS GOING BY YOU HAS PASSED THROUGH A HUMAN GUT.
SOMETHING LIKE THREE OR FOUR TIMES BEFORE IT GETS TO YOU.
LOUISIANA BOASTS A NATURAL RESOURCE THAT REMOVES POLLUTANTS FROM THE DRAINING MISSISSIPPI.
PLANTS THAT GROW IN WETLANDS PRODUCE THESE WONDERFUL FILTERS FOR EVERYTHING THAT IS COMING INTO THEM.
THEY TRAP SEDIMENT, THEY TEMIC CHEMICALS, AND WHAT LEAVES THE WETLANDS IS MUCH, MUCH CLEANER.
WATER WETLANDS ALSO PROVIDE AN IMPORTANT HABITAT FOR BIRDS AND OTHER WILDLIFE.
SADLY, THE LOUISIANA WETLANDS ARE QUICKLY DISAPPEARING.
COASTAL LOUISIANA HAS LOST ABOUT 1.2 MILLION ACRES OF WETLANDS IN THE LAST 100 YEARS.
WHEN WE LEVIED OFF THE MISSISSIPPI, IT CUT OFF THE MISSISSIPPI RIVER WATER FROM THE MARSHALS.
IN ADDITION TO THE LEVEES, A NETWORK OF MAN-MADE NAVIGATION CHANNELS IS ALSO COMPROMISING THE WETLANDS BY ALLOWING SALT WATER TO SEEP INTO THE MARSHES.
ONCE THAT SALTWATER TRAVELS UP THESE CHANNELS AND OVERFLOWS THE BANKS OF THESE CHANNELS OUT INTO FRESHWATER SYSTEMS SUCH AS THE CYPRESS SWAMP, UH, THAT SALTWATER SITS OUT
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THERE AROUND THE ROOTS OF THESE TREES, UH, AND KILLS 'EM.THEY CANNOT SURVIVE SALT WATER.
ELIMINATING THE HYPOXIC ZONE WILL TAKE MORE THAN SAVING OUR WETLANDS.
REDUCING NUTRIENT RUNOFF IN THE MISSISSIPPI RIVER WATERSHED IS THE HEART OF THE PROBLEM.
IT'S AN ISSUE INVOLVING OVER HALF THE STATES IN THE NATION AND A VAST ARRAY OF INDUSTRIES, PARTICULARLY FARMING, WHICH USES NITROGEN RICH FERTILIZER TO GROW ITS CROPS.
FERTILIZERS ARE HELPING THE UNITED STATES PRODUCE THE FOOD FOR THE WORLD, BUT THERE IS SUCH A THING AS AS OVERUSE.
THERE ARE SCIENTISTS WHO HAVE DONE THE ANALYSES AND PREDICT THAT YOU COULD REDUCE FERTILIZERS BY ABOUT 12% WITHOUT REDUCING CROP PRODUCTION AND SEE A SIGNIFICANT DECREASE IN THE AMOUNT OF NITROGEN GOING INTO THE MISSISSIPPI RIVER.
EXPERTS SAY THE FIRST KEY TO CHANGING BEHAVIOR IS RAISING PUBLIC AWARENESS.
WE ALL LIVE DOWNSTREAM OF SOMEBODY AND WE ALL LIVE UPSTREAM OF SOMEBODY.
SO WHAT SOMEBODY ELSE DOES IN THEIR WATERSHED AFFECTS THE WATER THAT I RECEIVE.
AND WHAT I DO IN MY WATERSHED AFFECTS THE WATER THAT SOMEBODY ELSE RECEIVES DOWNSTREAM.
IF WE DON'T CLEAN UP OUR ACT, OUR WATER RESOURCES, WHICH WE SIMPLY CANNOT LIVE WITHOUT, WILL BE RUINED COMING UP.
CAN THE WATER SUPPLY FOR 9 MILLION NEW YORKERS BE SAVED FROM THE RAVAGES OF POLLUTED RUNOFF? AT WE IN JANUARY OF 19 96, 1 OF THE MOST DEVASTATING WINTER STORMS IN HISTORY SLAMS THE EAST COAST.
TWO FEET OF SNOW DUMPS ON NEW YORK AND THROUGHOUT THE NORTHEAST CORRIDOR SCHOOLS, AIRPORTS AND ROADS ARE SHUT DOWN.
BY THE TIME IT'S OVER THE BLIZZARD AND RESULT IN FLOODING CAUSED $3 BILLION IN LOSSES, AND 187 LIVES ARE TAKEN.
AND IN THE CATSKILL MOUNTAINS OF UPSTATE NEW YORK, THE SNOW MELT TRIGGERS ANOTHER POTENTIALLY DEVASTATING CRISIS.
STORMWATER RUNOFF CONTAMINATED WITH TRASH, DIRT, FERTILIZERS, AND PESTICIDES FROM NEARBY FARMS AND COMMUNITIES THREATENS THE FRESH WATER SUPPLY AND THE CATSKILL SYSTEM OF RESERVOIRS IS VITALLY IMPORTANT FOR, IT IS THE BIGGEST WATERSHED OF NEW YORK CITY PROVIDING DRINKING WATER TO OVER 9 MILLION PEOPLE.
THE MIRACLE OF THE CITY'S WATER SUPPLY SYSTEM IS LARGELY UNKNOWN TO MOST NEW YORKERS.
YOU ASK PEOPLE, WHERE DOES THE WATER COME FROM? OFTEN PEOPLE SHUG THEIR SHOULDERS AND SAY, NEW JERSEY.
I FIGURED THAT, UH, WE WERE PROBABLY OUR OWN SEPARATE WATER SYSTEM THEN FROM UPSTATE.
I'D RATHER BE DRINKING WATER FROM UPSTATE THAN THE HUDSON RIVER.
I DON'T KNOW THAT MOST PEOPLE ARE AWARE OF HOW LARGE THE PROBLEM IS AND HOW CLOSE TO CRISIS MANY OF OUR WATER SUPPLY SYSTEMS ARE TO PRESERVE THE PURITY OF THE RESERVOIRS AND ENFORCE THE SAFE DRINKING WATER ACT.
THE ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY PRESENTED THE BIG APPLE WITH TWO OPTIONS.
EITHER BUILD AND MAINTAIN A $6 BILLION FACILITY TO FILTER ALL OF THE CITY'S TAP WATER OR FUND A $1 BILLION PROGRAM TO PROTECT THE WATERSHED FROM POLLUTED RUNOFF.
WHEN IT COMES TO OUR INVESTMENT IN CLEAN AIR AND CLEAN WATER, PRESERVING OPEN SPACE, FIXING ANTIQUATED SEWAGE TREATMENT PLANTS, WE CAN'T WAIT.
IT DOESN'T GET ANY LESS EXPENSIVE.
WITH THE HISTORIC WATERSHED AGREEMENT OF 1997, AN UNPRECEDENTED UPSTATE DOWNSTATE PARTNERSHIP WAS FORGED TO PROTECT THE NEW YORK CITY WATER SUPPLY.
THE WATERSHED AGREEMENT IS SAVING NEW YORK CITY BILLIONS OF DOLLARS.
THE PLAN INCLUDES PURCHASING AND RESERVING.
355,000 ACRES OF UNDEVELOPED WATERSHED LAND, THE UPGRADING OF SEWAGE TREATMENT PLANTS, AND THE PROTECTION AND RESTORATION OF STREAM CORRIDORS.
WHAT WE'RE LOOKING AT HERE IS, UH, MAIN TRIBUTARY OF THE ASOPUS CREEK.
DURING FLOODING, WE WERE SEEING A LOT OF SEDIMENT COMING OUT OF THE STREAM.
THE CLAY GETS INTO THE WATER COLUMN AND IT BECOMES VERY TURBID, AND THEN IT MAKES IT VERY DIFFICULT TO TREAT AND CLEAN THAT WATER.
SO FROM A WATER QUALITY PERSPECTIVE, WE'RE VERY CONCERNED ABOUT EROSION.
THE PROGRAM ALSO PROVIDES FUNDING FOR FARMERS THAT IMPLEMENT AGRICULTURE MANAGEMENT PRACTICES, BUT WE HAVE A VERY EXCITING PROGRAM WITH THE WATERSHED AGRICULTURAL COUNCIL, WHERE WE ARE WORKING WITH LOCAL FARMERS.
WE LOOK AT HOW THEY'RE HANDLING THE ANIMALS SO THAT THE RUNOFF ASSOCIATED WITH MANURE FERTILIZER AND THAT THAT FARM ACTIVITY ISN'T GETTING INTO THE, THE STREAMS AROUND OUR RESERVOIRS.
THIS WATER HERE IS BASICALLY THE WATER YOU'RE GONNA BE DRINKING DOWN IN THE CITY.
AND, UH, I FEEL I'VE GOT A RESPONSIBILITY TO TRY MY BEST TO KEEP IT CLEAN FOR WHEN IT GETS DOWN THERE.
IT USED TO BE WHEN IT RAINED HERE ON THE FARM, THE WATER THAT RAN AWAY FROM THE, THE BACK OF THE BARN HERE WAS FULL OF MUD MANURE AND IT WOULD JUST RUN BROWN AND RIGHT INTO THE STREAM.
TWO YEARS AGO, WE WOULD SPREAD EVERY DAY, UH, WE'D HAVE TO TAKE IT OUT, SPREAD IT ON THE FIELDS.
IF THE SNOW WAS DEEP, WE SPREAD IT ON THE SNOW.
AND UNFORTUNATELY, IF THE GROUND WAS FROZE WHEN THE SNOW MELTED, THE NUTRIENT VALUE OF IT FOR FERTILIZER WAS GONE.
IT WOUND UP DOWN IN THE RESERVOIR WITH NEW YORK CITY FUNDING A SECURE ABOVE GROUND STEEL TANK THAT CAN HOLD 400,000 GALLONS OF MANURE WAS INSTALLED ON THE
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MEADOWBROOK FARM.THAT'S ENOUGH STORAGE FOR SIX MONTHS OF THE YEAR.
NOW WE CAN STORE IT, SPREAD IT WHEN IT'LL DO THE MOST GOOD TO US FOR FERTILIZER.
AND, UH, WE DON'T HAVE TO SPREAD IT EVERY DAY.
I WORKED WITH TIM ON THE PLAN TO DEVELOP THE IMPROVEMENTS WE'RE GOING TO MAKE.
PLAN REALLY BELONGS TO THE FARMER.
UH, AND IT'S A COLLABORATION OF THEIR IDEAS AND WHAT TECHNICAL ADVICE WE CAN BRING TO THE PROGRAM.
BUT THE FARMER MAKES THE DECISION.
IT'S A PROGRAM THAT SEEMS TO MAKE EVERYBODY HAPPY.
HERE'S TO THE, THE FARMERS WHO ARE WORKING SO HARD TO MAKE SURE WE'VE GOT CLEAN WATER TO PUT IN OUR COFFEE TO GUARANTEE THE CITY'S WATER SUPPLY IS FRESH AT THE TAP.
COMPREHENSIVE TESTS ARE PERFORMED BY THE NEW YORK CITY DEPARTMENT OF ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION, BOTH IN THE LAB AND AT OVER 1000 SAMPLING STATIONS THROUGHOUT THE CITY.
NEW YORK CITY HAS PROBABLY ONE OF THE MOST EXTENSIVE WATER QUALITY MONITORING PROGRAMS IN THE NATION, IF NOT THE WORLD.
WE'RE SAMPLING EVERY DAY, 365 DAYS A YEAR.
I'VE BEEN DRINKING THIS WATER FOR 53 YEARS.
NEW YORK CITY, STRAIGHT FROM THE TAP TO MY LIPS COMING UP.
THE FUTURE OF OUR WATER SUPPLY REMAINS AT RISK, BUT THERE'S SOMETHING EVERYONE CAN DO TO HELP PROTECT IT.
FIND OUT HOW NEXT TO KEEP OUR WATERSHEDS FREE OF POLLUTANTS WILL REQUIRE THE ACTIONS OF EVERY CITIZEN, COMMUNITY AND BUSINESS PAVED CONCRETE SURFACES, ASPHALT, PARKING, LOTS, SIDEWALKS.
THE QUESTION IS, DO WE NEED TO HAVE AS MANY AS WE DO? BECAUSE TO THE EXTENT THAT YOU HAVE TOO MUCH IMPERVIOUS SURFACE, THE WATER IS NOT RETAINED ON SITE.
IT DOESN'T SOAK INTO THE GROUND, IT RUNS OFF, PICKS UP SPEED CARRIES POLLUTANTS AND CONTAMINANTS INTO THE WATER BODY.
ONE STRATEGY FOR PREVENTING STORMWATER RUNOFF IS OCCURRING AT THE NEW FORD ROUGE CENTER IN DEARBORN, MICHIGAN.
THIS REMODELED TRUCK PLANT IS COVERED BY A GREEN ROOF.
THE SIZE OF EIGHT FOOTBALL FIELDS PLANTED WITH A POROUS GROUND COVER.
IT REDUCES THE AMOUNT OF POLLUTED RUNOFF RELEASED INTO THE WATERSHED.
THE THING THAT TENDS TO GET THE MOST ATTENTION IS THE 10 ACRE GREEN ROOF.
BUT THAT'S REALLY JUST PART OF A PHILOSOPHY THAT IF AN AREA DOES NOT HAVE TO BE PAVED OR BUILT UPON, IT'S GOING TO BE GREEN SPACE.
AND COMMUNITIES ARE ALSO IMPLEMENTING GREEN SPACE STRATEGIES SUCH AS RAIN GARDENS.
THEY SLOPED THE LOT IN SUCH A MANNER THAT ALL THE FLOW GOES TOWARDS THIS LANDSCAPING WHERE BASICALLY THE POLLUTED RUNOFF CAN PERCOLATE INTO THE GROUND AND GET FILTERED.
UM, AND THEN GOING STRAIGHT ONTO THE STREET, INTO THE STORM DRAIN SYSTEM.
AND REALLY A VERY SIMPLE APPROACH TO CLEANING UP OUR RUNOFF IN URBAN AREAS.
BUT PERHAPS THE MOST POWERFUL COURSE OF ACTION IS INDIVIDUAL PARTICIPATION.
PEOPLE NEED TO TAKE RESPONSIBILITY FOR THE, THE STATE OF OUR WATERS.
AND WATER CONSERVATION IS ONE AREA WHERE THEY CAN DO THAT AS A COMMITTED CITIZEN.
ALL THOSE THINGS, UH, YOUR MOM TOLD YOU.
DON'T LET THE WATER TAP RUN WHILE YOU'RE BRUSHING YOUR TEETH.
TAKING YOUR HOUSEHOLD HAZARDOUS WASTE TO A CLEANUP AND RECYCLING DAY.
DON'T WASH YOUR CAR ON THE, ON THE STREETS AND PUT ALL THOSE SUDS DOWN INTO THE DRAIN.
WHEN YOU CHANGE OR USE MOTOR L YOU DON'T DUMP IT INTO THE STREET.
EVERYBODY'S GOTTA CLEAN UP AFTER THEIR PETS.
FERTILIZERS, HERBICIDES, PESTICIDES.
MAKE SURE YOU DON'T USE THEM ANYTIME THERE'S ANY CHANCE OF RAIN COMING UP IN THE NEAR FUTURE.
WHEN YOU'RE IRRIGATING YOUR LAWN AND YOUR GARDEN, MAKE SURE THAT YOU'RE NOT OVERS, SPRAYING AND CAUSING ALL THOSE CHEMICALS TO END UP GETTING INTO THE STORM DRAIN SYSTEM.
THE ONLY WAY WE'RE GONNA SOLVE THE PROBLEM IS IF EVERYBODY DOES THEIR PART.
WE ALL HAVE AN IMPACT ON OUR ENVIRONMENT, AND WE MUST ALL PLAY A, A ROLE IN THE PROTECTION AND RESTORATION OF OUR VALUABLE WATER RESOURCES.
TO LEARN MORE ABOUT HOW YOU CAN GET INVOLVED AND TO GET A FREE BROCHURE CALLED AFTER THE STORM, VISIT EPA.GOV/WEATHER CHANNEL.