Syeed's address, "The New Frontiers of Pluralism," stressed theimportant role the Class of 2007 will play in promoting globalunderstanding.

Syeed, the first Muslim to address Elon's Baccalaureate, said the newcentury "has a special challenge and presents a special opportunity forour American youth, for our new graduates. You will be called upon toleadership positions on a global level."

The emerging Muslim community in America has created "a new resource inthis already pluralist society," Syeed said. "This community adds arich dimension to our nation's role internationally. American Muslimsare a strong bridge between America and the Muslim world."

Syeed, who came to America in the 1970s, said Islam and America share acommitment to equality, democracy and freedom. "It is unfortunate thatwe lack those very values in most of the Muslim countries. (TheAmerican Muslim community) is specially qualified to bring about areform within the world community of Islam."

Syeed is the first director of the Office of Interfaith and CommunityAlliances, which works to enhance positive relationships andunderstandings between Muslim Americans, government agencies andCongressional representatives.

Senior Thomas Barnett was awarded the Elon Medallion during theservice. The Medallion is awarded at the discretion of the President tomembers of the Elon community who have rendered outstanding service tothe university. Although medical challenges prevented him fromfinishing his degree requirements, Barnett has been an exemplarystudent, an Honors Fellow and digital arts major. He has raisedawareness on campus about accessibility for those with limited mobility and served as a consultant for a University of North Carolina accessibility study on its 16 campuses.

Michael Fels, assistant professor of art, read Barnett's medallion citation.

Click here tolisten to remarks by President Leo M. Lambert and the citation read by Fels...