NEW ENGLAND TREK
Shatner delivers NEIT commencement
PROVIDENCE — Space is not the final frontier to famed actor William Shatner. The man who portrayed Capt. James T. Kirk in the “Star Trek” franchise instead told the assembled graduates from New England Institute of Technology on Sunday afternoon that the final frontier was actually human nature.
Shatner, the legendary award-winning actor, director, writer, and producer, served as the speaker at Sunday’s commencement ceremony at the Dunkin’ Donuts Center in Providence. Perhaps most famous for his role in the “Star Trek” television and film franchise, Shatner has been on stage and screen for the better part of seven decades.
“Human nature is the final frontier,” Shatner told the New England Tech students as part of his 20-minute speech. He said the world’s population is expanding, food and energy are approaching their limits, and we must do all that we can to stop or at least slow global warming.
“So much needs to be revolutionized and it all starts with our basic nature. Will we change?” Shatner wondered. “The hardest change of all, change we need to make is human nature. Our minds are geared to fight or flight … all this guarantees us zero future. In order to survive our changing world, mankind needs to change, we need to adapt to the world around us.”
“Human nature has to change and we can do it,” he said.
In addition to his role on “Star Trek,” Shatner’s resume includes playing the titular police sergeant on the television series “TJ Hooker,” hosting the reality series “Rescue 911” and winning two Emmy awards and a Golden Globe for his roles in “The Practice” and “Boston Legal.”
Shatner during his address told the students that as they embark on their futures ahead, they’ll find that the real world is both beautiful and ugly. He said the students should consider that when rolled, their diplomas become a telescope, which he said could “fixate on the future.”
“Change is as important as fire and the wheel,” he said. “History is filled with violent
clashes of personality, idea, religion, like matter and anti-matter … If you hold that telescope to your eye and fixate … you might see something different, you might see hope.”
When he wondered what the solutions might be in our future, Shatner said it could come from the arts, humanities, or perhaps something as simple as oneon-one human interaction. He also told the students they “need to be on the tips of your toes, you’ve got to be ready for change, to seek opportunity where it exists, not where you wish it to be.”
“It’s up to you to explore those worlds, it’s up to you to find a tantalizing curiosity and explore,” Shatner said as his address concluded. “It might take you to worlds you haven’t dreamed of.”
While he was a fictitious space captain and police sergeant, Shatner on Sunday was bestowed with the very real title of doctor, as New England Tech presented him with an honorary doctor of humane letters degree in recognition of his achievements.
The Class of 2018 represented 1,180 students from around the United States and the world who received associate, bachelor’s, or master’s degrees. Sunday was the 77th commencement in the history of New England Tech.
Shatner was not the first member of the USS Enterprise to serve as the commencement speaker for a New England Tech graduation. Leonard Nimoy, who portrayed the half-Vulcan, half-human character Spock in the “Star Trek” franchise, was a previous speaker at the university’s graduation in 1997.
Rhode Island General Treasurer Seth Magaziner offered warm wishes and congratulations on behalf of the state. He said New England Tech has been a “vital pipeline of talent and economic engine for Rhode Island for decades.”
As Rhode Island continues to strengthen, Magaziner said, citing a lowering unemployment rate and thousands of jobs being added, the treasurer said that would not be possible “were it not for the contributions or quality of workforce from this institution.” He said New England Tech plays a “vital role in the state’s economic recovery. We believe in you, we’re counting on you.”
Outgoing Warwick Mayor Scott Avedisian said that he was pleased to have his city be the host of the two New En- gland Tech campuses. As the dusk of one career approaches for the students, the dawn of another is about to begin, Avedisian said.
“Change can be scary, but it can also be a good factor,” Avedisian said. “Change forces us to adapt, to push ourselves for something new and something more, and forces us out of our comfort zone and into new opportunities.”
New England Tech also honored Rhode Island Foundation President and Chief Executive Officer Neil D. Steinberg with an honorary doctor of humane letters degree for “the innovative work he has done to improve life for Rhode Islanders.”