With the theme of "Stretching the Boundaries of Thought and Experience," the university held its annual Fall Convocation on Wednesday.

The event, held in Mondavi Center's Jackson Hall as Dateline went to press, beckoned the campus community to start the new academic year with fresh inspiration, ideas and illumination. With the UC Davis Symphony Orchestra playing Mozart's Overture to The Impresario in the background, the convocation began with welcomes and introductions from Rahim Reed, associate executive vice chancellor for campus community relations, and Daniel Simmons, chair of the UC Davis Academic Senate.

Next, Chancellor Larry Vanderhoef was joined at the podium by campus community members reading their "My Personal Compass" essays to launch a new yearlong initiative designed to encourage reflection and active listening.

The essayists who presented their work at Wednesday's convocation were Naomi Janowitz, director and professor of religious studies; Keltie Jones, coordinator, Student Disability Center; Arthur Shapiro, professor of evolution and ecology; Eric Zamora, senior sociology major; and Paula Lorenzo, chairwoman of the Rumsey Band of Wintun Indians and chief executive officer of Cache Creek Casino and Resort.

My Personal Compass

Members of the campus community have been asked to submit 350-word essays for the My Personal Compass project. To read all the essays submitted so far, visit the initiative's special Web site at mypersonalcompas.ucdavis.edu. (Also, look for a special convocation insert, which will include the essays, in the Oct. 7 issue of Dateline.)

The My Personal Compass initiative is modeled after National Public Radio's "This I Believe" program. The NPR series is intended to encourage people of different beliefs to listen to one another. NPR advises its essay writers to "Be specific. Take your belief out of the ether — ground it in the events of your life."

"Today the art of deep listening, of hearing and honoring another person's perspective, is perhaps a fading art," said Vanderhoef.

Beyond the Wednesday convocation ceremonies, the chancellor looks forward to the unfolding of the My Personal Compass project and the thoughtful and respectful sharing of beliefs that it may encourage.

"I'm hopeful that we can reclaim that ability and achieve the greater collective understanding necessary to solve our collective challenges as members of this community and as citizens of the world," he said.

Joining Vanderhoef on the stage were Simmons; Virginia Hinshaw, provost and executive vice chancellor; Suzanne Williams, member, UC Davis Academic Federation Executive Council; Lin King, chair of the UC Davis Staff Assembly; Caliph Assagai, president of the Associated Students of UC Davis; Jonathan Karpel, chair of the UC Davis Graduate Student Association; Lawrence Shepard, trustee of the UC Davis Foundation; and Richard Engel, president of the Cal Aggie Alumni Association