Authentic Silber in a last hello

In a moment laden with symbolism, Boston University's longtime leader, chancellor John Silber, gave his last welcoming address to entering freshmen yesterday and then turned over the microphone to the incoming president, Daniel S. Goldin, who greeted students for the first time.

Preparing to step aside after more than three decades leading Boston University, Silber offered students a strong dose of practical advice and exhorted them to embrace opportunities for learning at BU. With his trademark bluntness, Silber covered ground from how to avoid getting hit by a car to how to get to know professors well enough to ensure good letters of recommendation.

Inspired by words of Oliver Wendell Holmes, Silber told the 3,950 freshmen, "I hope that each of you will be touched with fire and move through your years at Boston University with passion and intensity."

Silber then introduced the surprise guest, Goldin, who wore a dark suit and tie, in contrast to the other speakers garbed in traditional red and black academic robes. Silber praised Goldin for saving NASA when Goldin headed that agency at a time of crisis, alluded to the new leader's passion for education, and pointed out that Goldin was "a hotshot jazz clarinetist" during his own college career.

Goldin's remarks largely eschewed the topic of college life to focus on the challenges students will face as citizens in what he called an unstable world.

Noting that the Earth's population has tripled since he was born in 1940, Goldin touched on such problems as climate change, economic globalization, and terrorism as represented by the 9/11 attacks.

"I am so excited, so honored to have a chance to be the president of this great university, with this unbelievable staff and students of the highest quality," he said. "Let's work together to make this planet a place where your children and grandchildren can celebrate what you have done years from now."

Goldin also praised his predecessor for vision and leadership that made BU the unique institution it is today. Silber was president from 1971 to 1996, and then remained a powerful player as chancellor when he handed his title to successor Jon Westling. But Westling was pushed out by trustees last year, and Silber returned to the day-to-day management of BU for another year. He steps down when Goldin takes the reins on Nov. 1.

Goldin made Silber's departure a precondition for accepting the BU job, though the two men are reported to get along well. Both are bold leaders with strong, sharp-edged personalities.

Silber didn't speak directly about his legacy, although he did extol the high caliber of the faculty and the entering class. He also embraced what was perhaps his last opportunity to use some time-honored one-liners. He first pointed out that "you won't catch Lyme disease . . . you won't get bitten by a rabid fox," on BU's urban campus. But he admonished students to be careful when it comes to traffic, drugs, alcohol, and sex.

Every year, he said, someone at BU gets hits by a car, trolley, or bicycle. He said the school takes a hard line on substance abuse ("This is not a drug rehabilitation institute") and doesn't pass out condoms ("If you aren't smart enough to know where to get them, you're not smart enough to be in college").

Silber also urged the freshmen to sample the varied offerings of the university, study hard, and avoid choosing a class because the professor is an easy grader.

BU, he said, subscribes to "an idea developed by Nietzsche, that education is liberation. We want to get obstacles out of your way."

Marcella Bombardieri can be reached at bombardieri@globe.com.