'Build bridges for the
future' Brittany Smith/ Managing
Editor
Retired U.S. Supreme Court Justice Sandra Day O’Connor
briefly reminded Elon University students, faculty and staff
members to build metaphorical bridges in their community at
Tuesday’s Fall Convocation.
Building bridges through careers in public service allows
those building them to think in the present and future so
generations to come can cross the bridge with more ease and
insight.
“Hopes and ideas are vindicated and well adapted
through public service,” O’Connor said.
“You can focus your energies on finding solutions and
what’s right to remedy instead of what’s
wrong.”
She cited Justice John Harlan’s decision in the 1896
case Plessy v. Ferguson as an example of a man who laid the
groundwork for a bridge that would later overturn the racial
policy of “separate but equal” in the Brown v.
Board of Education case in 1954.
“Harlan’s dissent inspired the highest calling
among others who struggled for racial equality,” she
said.
Even though Justice Harlan did not live to see his bridge
complete, the effects of his groundwork are still seen today
through racial diversity in schools. O’Connor
encouraged students to lay their own foundations in public
service, despite the challenges they might face.
“With every step in the area of public service is
doing something right for a good reason,” she said.
“It’s more interesting and challenging and the
encouragement and guidance you receive is
genuine.”
O’Connor also thinks that the nation needs more people
to build bridges in communities through public
service.
“Our nation needs hardworking, innovative people to
operate and improve our nation,” she said.
O’Connor’s quick jokes at the beginning and her
insight of a life of public service is what made her speech
applicable to her audience.
“Her ability to relate to all students and not just
the law students made it easy to relate to and a pleasure to
listen to,” freshman Austin Buckley said.
Contact Brittany Smith at pendulum@elon.edu or
278-7247. | 
