This event, titled Fall Convocation of the 108th Academic Year with Mark J. Plotkin, was held on September 17, 1997 in the Alumni Memorial Gymnasium at 11:00am (An Elon campus picnic followed on the lawn beside Lake Mary Nell). Plotkin is the author, Tales of a Shaman’s Apprentice, which was Elon’s Common Reading. The Prelude was played by Mary Alice Bragg, organist. The Processional, “The Grand March from Aida” by Giuseppe Verdi. Dr. J. Earl Danieley led the processional with the MACE. The Elon Platform party followed Danieley. 00:03:30 A great medium shot of Danieley holding the MACE in front of the audience was seen as the platform party walked onto the stage. 00:04:04 The Invocation was stated by Andrew I. Stemmer, Class of 1999, President, Elon Hillel. 00:05:29 The Welcome was presented by J. Fred Young, President, Elon College. 00:07:37 The Greetings from the Trustees was presented by Noel L. Allen, Class 1969, Member of the Board of Trustees. 00:11:24 The Old Hundredth Psalm Tune by Ralph Vaughan Williams was sung by the Elon College Choir and Chamber Singers with Richard E. Cook, the Director. Michael Capps and Brian Denny played the trumpets and Max Wood played the tympani. 00:16:40 The Educational Adventure was delivered by Carolyn E. Bungardner, Class of 1998, President, Tri-Beta Biology Honor Society. Bungardner spoke of her experiences when she travelled to the Rain Forest of Belize. 00:20:00 The Introduction of the speaker was done by Janet S. MacFall, Coordinator, Environmental Studies Program. The Convocation Address was given by Mark J. Plotkin, Executive Director, The Ethnobiology and Conservation Team. His speech was titled Preserving the Culture of Native Peoples. Mark J. Plotkin was born May 21, 1955 and is an ethnobotanist and a plant explorer in the Neotroepics, where he is an expert on rainforest ecosystems. Plotkin is an advocate for tropical rainforest conservation. Plotkin spoke about diabetes in the United States and how a company hired Plotkin to travel to the Amazon Rain Forest to find local plants to reduce diabetes. He discussed biodiversity and cultural diversity. He said there are 80 thousand plant species in the Amazon. He stated that everyone needs to get involved in saving the problems of our environment. Plotkin received a standing ovation. 00:57:01 The Gaudeamus Igitur, Traditional Collegiate Hymn, was sung by Elon College Choir and Chambers Singers. The students could be seen singing. 01:00:20 The Benediction was spoken by Richard W. McBride, Chaplain. McBride extended an invitation to all to join the picnic after Elon’s Convocation. 01:02:27 The Recessional occurred with Lobet den Herrn mit Pauken und Cymbale by Sigfrid Karg-Elert. 01:02:52 There was a wide video shot of the platform party walking out of Alumni Gym. Plotkin and Young walked side-by-side, followed by Allen, Bumgardner, Stemmer, MacFall, McBride, and Danieley. 01:03:56 In addition, there was a wide shot of the convocation guests departing in Alumni Gym.