11/9/07

I first met Dr. Smith walking across the academic quad in 1978, dressed in the coolest shirt jack. It was such a relief to speak to a professor who was so interested in one's intellectual and personal development. I started visiting him first at his office and soon began appearing uninvited at his house on 6th Street. I had the temerity of a shameless and boldface person to show up around dinner time which Dr.Smith was gracious enough to always invite me to share a meal. Mrs. Smith never seemed to mind my presence but, even if she did, I wasn't about to ever let them go. I suppose the image of Deeno the dinosaur in the Flintstones who refuses to be locked out comes to mind.

I became so enamored of Dr. Smith that I ended up taking five courses in medieval literature from him and never received a grade better than a "B". I once asked Dr. Smith why I never received a better grade and he replied in that gentle, dignified manner of his, "You don't deserve it." It was one of the few times of my life that someone left me speechless. I will always remember reading in one of Dr. Smith classes the "Love Letters of Peter Abelard and Eloise" where I learnt the tragic story of Peter Abelard a famous theologian of the middle ages who fell in love with his young pupil, Eloise. It was a revelation for a kid from Trinidad/Brooklyn to experience through literature the passions of individuals in a different time and place.

One of the greatest experiences of my life was working with Dr. Smith in establishing and editing "Giving Voice", a minority student sponsored literary magazine for those underrepresented voices in the Bucknell community. It should come as no surprise that Dr. Smith was instrumental in naming the magazine and planning to get the magazine financed. He told me that it was incumbent to put forth intellectual vehicles for those voices normally not heard, and that is how the name of magazine came to be. The magazine was extremely inclusive representing not only people of color but those on the social fringes. Dr. Smith wrote the first introduction to the magazine mentioning the concept of the university as a cosmopolis of ideas and diversity of views. Dr. Smith believed everyone should be heard no matter how much he disagreed with their ideas.

I'm not sure how many people realized the quiet diplomacy Dr. Smith conducted on behalf of his students to get them emotional and financial support. A good friend of mine found himself in some financial aid difficulties and because he was a good student, Dr. Smith went to each of his professors to get personal recommendations so that he could present it to then President Gary Sojka. Pres. Sojka was able to extend the financial aid the student needed. And this example presents what was the most important mission for Dr. Smith. Namely, students and the education they receive matter.

I wanted to note that one of the greatest aspects of Dr. Smith was also extending educational opportunities to non-traditional students in the Summer Transfer Enrichment Program (STEP) and the Lewisburg Prison Project. He believed in a true democracy of learning for all. The idea of a university exists for all who wish to pursue knowledge. I wish to thank Bucknell for giving me the opportunity to be enriched by Dr. Smith but most importantly I wish to thank Mrs. Smith, Hazel, Mark and Martin for allowing me to share such a great man.