Durden's Vital Speech

President's Convocation address featured in prominent publication.

October 4, 2011

Speeches by President Barack Obama and Texas Gov. Rick Perry are also featured in the October issue of Vital Speeches of the Day.

President Durden’s Aug. 28 Convocation speech is featured in the October 2011 issue of Vital Speeches of the Day, a monthly publication that reprints “the finest examples of rhetoric” by leaders in business, politics, education and government.

In his speech, "Changing More Than Just the Size and Color of the Room," Durden underscores the usefulness of a liberal-arts education, calls on first-year students to balance their pursuit of information with time to generate ideas, and challenges the class of 2015 to “succeed at change.”

The speech title was inspired by a canvas bag Durden purchased at the Los Angeles Museum of Contemporary Art. It reads, “As it turns out, when most people tell you they want to change things what they really mean to say is that they want to change the size and color of the room in which things take place.”

Speeches by President Barack Obama, U.S. Sen. Marco Rubio of Florida and Texas Gov. Rick Perry also are featured in the VSOD October issue. Read President Durden’s address.