Michael Moffitt, associate director of the Appropriate Dispute Resolution Center at the University of Oregon School of Law, delivered the keynote address to the class of 2007 at spring commencement June 16, 2007.
Moffitt’s speech, “In Praise of Surprises: Lessons from Conflict Resolution,” dealt with the importance of keeping an open mind when dealing with the conflicts that inevitably arise in life.
“We have done our students a disservice if we have taught them that now they are educated, they should no longer expect to be surprised,” Moffitt says. “To be surprised is to be open to new information and new points of view. We learn when we see something we didn’t expect to see.” That unexpected moment, he says, can lead to a broader understanding of how to resolve conflicts.
A total of 4,359 students who completed work toward a degree during the 2006-2007 academic year participated in the spring ceremonies, which were held at McArthur Court.