POSTED BY MARTIN KICH This was a very nice surprise for our graduates and a very nice moment in the very uneven recent history of our university. I’m here to say congratulations. Congratulations to you chosen ones. I am calling you the chosen ones because you have been chosen in many ways. First, by the…
BY BRIAN C. MITCHELL The following is an excerpt of my address to graduate students at the University of Rochester commencement. My full remarks are available here. I suspect that one of the reasons that the University asked me to serve as your speaker is that I have had many opportunities to re-invent myself in…
Today’s Inside Higher Ed prominently features an article about faculty complaining about The Vagina Monologues being in part performed at a year’s end celebration ceremony coinciding with commencement at Mercer County Community College. Surely this news is a kick in the pants that we need to consider what really constitutes acceptable ceremonial material. Having alumni…
Wow. Thank you all. Thank you so much. (Applause.) Thank you. “Dr. Obama”–I like that. (Laughter.) I think I’ll have everybody at home start calling me that. (Laughter.) Thank you. I am so honored to help you celebrate this wonderful day. And thank you, Ally; thank you, Dr. Knapp, for your generous introduction. I also…
Jon Lovett, a speechwriter for President Obama, addressed the graduates of Pitzer College on “fighting the culture of bullshit.” What follows is a brief selection from a fuller partial transcript of his commencement address provided through The Atlantic: http://www.theatlantic.com/politics/archive/2013/05/life-lessons-in-fightingthe-culture-of-bullshit/276030/. ************************* One of the greatest threats we face is, simply put, bullshit. We are drowning it.…
PRESIDENT BARACK OBAMA: Hello, Morehouse! (Applause.) Thank you, everybody. Please be seated. AUDIENCE MEMBER: I love you! PRESIDENT OBAMA: I love you back. (Laughter.) That is why I am here. I have to say that it is one of the great honors of my life to be able to address this gathering here today. I want to thank…