Nervous. Anxious. Classes mere hours away.

For freshman at the 2006 Kansas University Convocation ceremony Wednesday, the seemingly sudden pressure was on.

“The grades, the big classes,” freshman Heather Steinle said. “I’m nervous that I won’t do well.”

For those students – and all of the nearly 1,600 in attendance at the Lied Center – KU Chancellor Robert Hemenway had a message: Breathe deep. Worry not.

“The chancellor’s role tonight is to say relax. Be calm,” Hemenway said.

Wednesday night, at KU’s last Hawk Week hurrah before the reality of books and classes and tests sinks in, faculty and students came together.

After a cheer-inducing video and the introductions of school deans and other important KU figures, Provost Richard Lariviere explained the unity necessary for a well-run university.

Jason Boots, student body president of Kansas University, introduces himself at KU's 141st Convocation Wednesday evening at the Lied Center. Boots recounted a story from his freshman year when he wanted to give Chancellor Robert Hemenway, left, a high five.

“It takes all of us to become a teaching and learning community,” Lariviere said.

Then, student body president Jason Boots did his best to get the crowd of mainly sorority and fraternity folks up and excited for the four – or five or more – years ahead of them.

Using an extended basketball metaphor, he threw the crowd a blue basketball, saying that the ball of life was now in their proverbial court.

“So are you excited yet?” Boots yelled. The crowd yelled back in unison.

Finally, Hemenway spoke calming words – and also charged the incoming KU class with doing its best to change the world for the better.