Live, from Franklin Field …

The sky was still ominous on the morning of May 13, as the black-gowned students began streaming toward Franklin Field, clutching umbrellas and cell phones. Rain had already cancelled the academic procession, and more was forecast throughout the day. But for a couple of crucial hours it held off, and to the relief of the 6,000 students and their relatives, friends, professors, and administrators, Penn’s 246th Commencement went off without a hitch. By noon, the speeches had been made; the students had their degrees bestowed upon them en masse; the faithful had swung their arms to “The Red and Blue”; and hundreds of lightweight emergency ponchos had been flung into the air by the newest members of Penn’s ever-swelling family of alumni, the Class of 2002.

Herewith, a collection of verbal snapshots and sound bites.

On the Elements
“Good morning, Class of 2002. It’s a beautiful day today!”
—Provost Robert Barchi Gr’72 M’72 GM’73.

On Your Mark …
“Graduates, are you ready to roll?”
—Penn President Judith Rodin CW’66.

Self Importance
“Please be assured that I am well aware that the least relevant person involved at a Commencement is the Commencement speaker.”
—Commencement speaker Jim Lehrer, executive editor and anchor of The NewsHour with Jim Lehrer.

On the Significance of Commencement
“Don’t make a mistake about what is happening here today. The fact that you are about to get a diploma from one of America’s finest institutions of higher learning does not mean you are educated. Some of the dumbest people I know have degrees from some of America’s greatest institutions of higher learning. They took their diploma in hot little hand, and proceeded to never read another book, entertain another fresh or new idea, and, most tragically for their society and country, never again paid attention to much of anything other than themselves, to much of anything that was happening around them, or to others. Please, please do not do that. Leave here today caring about your mind, and your neighborhood, and your government, your country, and your world.”
—Jim Lehrer.

Science, Policy, and Power
“An alarming knowledge gap is growing between the nation’s scientists who are on the brink of many life-saving discoveries and advances, and the nation’s policymakers who have the power to promote or stifle scientific progress. So it’s especially important for you to find an effective way to speak the truths of science to those in power.”
—Dr. Judith Rodin.

Remembrance of Risks Past
“It is unlikely that any of you will have occasion to remember me or my Commencement address. I don’t blame you. But if by chance something does linger, I hope it’s just that there was a guy up here who kept saying, ‘Risk. Risk. The way to happiness is to risk it. Risk it.’”
—Jim Lehrer, quoting from a fictional Commencement address by a fictional lieutenant governor of Oklahoma in a 1990 novel titled 
The Sooner Spy, written by Jim Lehrer.

The State of the Fourth Estate
“Journalism is in trouble with the public for reasons that are out there for all to see … But, amidst the horror and the awfulness [of September 11th], there have been some heartening things happening, and one of them is what it has done to American journalism.

“I believe that, for the most part, the story and its many pieces and tentacles have been responsibly covered by the mainstream organizations, electronic as well as print. But more importantly, it has brought home a message loud and clear to some of my sister and fellow practitioners. That there is, and has been, a serious world out there that deserves to be covered seriously.”
—Jim Lehrer.

Now Get to Work!
“As the heirs of Franklin, each of you now is a public-spirited citizen of the world. So I expect to see one or two of you in the Oval Office, a few of you accepting Nobel Prizes, a lot of you prospering, and all of you leading full lives that bring joy and meaning to yourselves, credit to Penn, and lasting benefits to humanity. 

Humility
“If we are in fact known by the company we keep, I know I will never do any 
better than this.”
—Jim Lehrer.

Wired 
A senior in mortarboard and gown follows a group of fellow seniors down Locust Walk, heading toward Franklin Field. In his right hand, he holds a digital camcorder high over his head, aiming it at the other seniors. In his left hand, he cradles a cell phone against his ear, talking to … who knows?

Cell-Phone Dialogue
(Overheard in the East Stands)
Father: “Where are you?”
Daughter: “Behind the stage.”
Father: “Oh.”

So Much for Those Masking-Tape Mortarboard Messages
“Welcome to MarchingOrder! This site helps the University of Pennsylvania collect important information from potential commencement participants. It also helps create personal graduation display pages that will be displayed for each graduate during the actual ceremony on the JumboTron. 

“To see a demo of the MarchingOrder system, please click the button below.”
—From the temporary Web site for MarchingOrder, a software program created by David Badler Eng’02 W’02 and Tyler Mullins Eng’02 W’02; the Web site was designed by Matt Uffalussy Eng’O2. The program was used in the individual-degree ceremonies of the Wharton MBA program, the School of Engineering and Applied Science, the Graduate School of Education, and the School of Nursing.

Virtues and Values
“We would like to believe that the virtues and value of internationalism and academic freedom are self-evident. Yet, some argue that in order to protect our freedoms and pluralistic society, we must close our doors to international students and scholars. To be sure, homeland security will require greater scrutiny at our borders, and greater screening of those who wish to come here. But we must protect the multiplicity of cultures and peoples that makes us strong.”
—Dr. Judith Rodin.

“I am so very proud of you. Congratulations.”
—Dr. Judith Rodin.


And the Honorands Are …

Joan Ganz Cooney
As a successful public-television producer, you did more than document the world. You transformed it … With Sesame Street broadcast nationally and globally, there is hardly a child in the world who does not delight in the consistent cheerfulness of Big Bird, the benign grumpiness of Oscar the Grouch, the babyish glee of Elmo, or the musical enthusiasm of Rosita … Thanks to the beloved characters you helped create, generations of American children have learned to respect and treasure difference, because it’s not always easy being green …

Your programs, including The Electric Company3-2-1 ContactSquare One TV, GhostwriterCROBig Bag, and Dragon Tales, have achieved 79 Emmy Awards, and have received scores of other honors across the globe.

Eric Hobsbawm
You have set new standards for the practice of academic history and for the public engagement of the intellectual … Professor Emeritus of Birkbeck College at the University of London, you have also taught and lectured in 30 countries on four continents, and you continue to enthrall students of all ages, nationalities, and political affiliations even in your retirement … Co-founder and now vice-president of the influential journal Past & Present, and active member of many professional academic associations, you have invigorated and enhanced the study, teaching, and writing of history.

As Britain’s “Lion of the Left,” you served in the 1980s as the “unofficial philosopher and intellectual conscience of the Labour Party,” laying the groundwork for New Labour and forever altering the course of British politics … With your elegant, readable prose you have reached broad popular audiences, sharing the fruits of critical historical interpretation with a huge audience.

Irwin Mark Jacobs
We are in the Information Age, and you are a leader in the telecommunications revolution, which is redefining the size of the planet, and the ease of sharing information. You pioneered the development of Code Division Multiple Access (CDMA) and built upon it until it became the most advanced digital wireless communications technology in the industry …

Beginning your teaching career at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology, you co-authored a textbook in 1965 on digital communications, Principles of Communication Engineering, that has attained the status of classic and is still used in classrooms throughout the country … In 1985, you founded QUALCOMM, the company that you have led to a place in the Fortune 500, the Standard & Poor’s 500 Index, and the Nasdaq Stock Market … Amidst all the recognition, you have never wavered in your commitment to education, giving generously of both your time and your financial support.

Jim Lehrer
Since October 1975 you have been a leading voice of informed, critical awareness of world affairs for American television viewers. You embody the values of American civic engagement—the public-minded exercise of political debate among citizens.

As anchor of The NewsHour with Jim Lehrer, you offer a measured, intellectual alternative to “infotainment.” You treat television viewers with respect by imbuing your reporting with insight and substance … 

As moderator in election debates in each of the past four presidential campaigns, you have left an indelible mark of intelligence and integrity on the democratic process in the United States … You championed accountable government when you provided continuous live coverage of the Senate Watergate hearings for the Public Broadcasting Service in 1973. Your partnership with Robert MacNeil on that occasion not only launched an historic public-television news partnership, but won you an Emmy award as well … You have made profound contributions to American letters as well as broadcasting through your 12 novels, two memoirs, and three plays.

Richard E. Smalley
As a tireless seeker into the deeper nature of the physical world, you have added the fullerene to the list of elemental forms of carbon that, before, included only graphite and diamonds. With the discovery and characterization of the soccerball-shaped Buckminsterfullerene, you have added a poetic and utopian dream to the history of Chemistry.

With homage to this former Penn faculty member’s vision of a liberatory form—the geodesic dome—that unites incredible strength with economy and simplicity, you have generated the strongest fibers ever conceived. The countless potential applications of your manipulations of fullerenes—from drug delivery to electrical circuitry—open whole new worlds of nanotechnological possibilities in the palms of our hands.

Share Button

    Related Posts

    Overcoming Fear, Finding Love
    Oncologist and Author Siddhartha Mukherjee to Speak
    Let Your Voice Be Heard

    Leave a Reply