Fletcher Celebrates 75th Anniversary—October, 2008
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n October 27, 1933, James T. Shotwell delivered an address entitled “The Task of Diplomacy Today,” formally opening The Fletcher School’s 75th Anniversary celebration. The world was ready to erupt into World War II, and Shotwell spoke of the importance of peace, international interdependence, and challenging “the old order.” To Shotwell, The Fletcher School “is, and will continue to represent, so long as it remains true to the purposes set forth in its announcement, a symbol of the newer outlook upon international affairs.”
75 years later, on October 24, 2008, ASEAN auditorium was a vision of Fletcher orange, as Fletcher students, staff and alumni, garbed in orange Fletcher scarves, gathered to commemorate the 75th anniversary of the 1933 opening exercises of The Fletcher School of Law and Diplomacy. In his introductory address, Dean Stephen Bosworth noted that the founding of The Fletcher School was “an act of great hope in a time of popular despair.” The remarks of Bosworth and each of the following speakers acknowledged the important role of the Fletcher community in a world that continues struggles with profound global problems.
Keynote speaker Dr. Klaus Scharioth, the German Ambassador to the United States and a Fletcher alumnus, emphasized the importance of international cooperation in the face of challenges such as the global financial crisis, questions of climate change, and defense against terrorism. Global cooperation is necessary to have a meaningful impact on any of these issues. Scharioth’s address reflected some of Shotwell’s earlier words, as Scharioth argued for the reevaluation of our global institutions to reflect the changing world.
Professor Joel Trachtman and current student Dahlia Shaham asked whether Shotwell’s vision held true today. Trachtman spoke of the continued relevance of Shotwell’s Wilsonian vision and the Fletcher philosophy. Topics such as globalization, environmental protection, poverty alleviation, human rights and use of force are interrelated, and must be approached as such. Shaham, asking if the school continued to live up to the vision of its founders, found the answer to be a resounding yes. Arguing that Fletcher honors the goal of nurturing a newer outlook, Shaham expressed her belief that Shotwell would be “thrilled” to see the eclectic and diverse student body.
Professor John Perry and recent alumnus Brian Neff asked the audience to look to the past. Perry, noting that an occasion such as an anniversary is a time to consider what we are and what we ought to be, argued that we must be more aware of the past. Past events have new meaning in light of the present, and how we tackle present problems can be well informed by our knowledge of past events. Neff, a representative of the class of 2007, discussed a more specific part of the past, detailing the archival display which was gifted to the school by his class. The archival display, comprising photographs and important documents capturing Fletcher’s own history, can be seen in the hallways of the school.
The commemoration ceremony included musical interludes from the Ambassachords and ended with a champagne toast, as students, faculty, staff and alumni raised their glasses for the years that had passed and the years to come.
Aparna Polavarapu F’10