Olivia DrakeThank you faculty, President Roth, Anna Quindlen family, friends. And of course congratulations to the class of 2009. I am scared. We probably all have good reasons to be scared right now. When the nation was scared many decades ago, FDR said, “This is preeminently the time to speak the truth, the whole truth, frankly and boldly. Nor need we shrink from honestly facing conditions in our country today.” The truth is climate change is no longer merely a distant threat, it is happening now. The truth is Social Security and Medicare will likely be insolvent before 2020. We are…
(The Commencement Address by Anna Quindlen P’07 also is on video.) When I was first asked to give the commencement address to the Wesleyan class of 2009, I knew I was going to have to begin with an apology: I am not, as you can see, Barack Obama. But as the months passed between the invitation and this event, prevailing wisdom was that I was not only going to have say I was sorry for not being last year’s speaker, but for so much else. On behalf of your elders and the entire nation, I was expected to say I was…
Members of the board of trustees, members of the faculty and staff, distinguished guests, new recipients of graduate degrees and Class of 2009, I am honored to present some brief remarks to our graduates on the occasion of their commencement. This year I’ve continued my “second Wesleyan education,” but I am still very much an underclassman. You seniors often asked me: “Roth, what are you going to major in? What are you focused on?” My focus as an undergraduate was on how people make sense of the past. My focus as your president is on how to link our sense…
Wesleyan's 177th Commencement is featured in several video clips below. The latest version of Quicktime Player is required to view the videos. The player can be downloaded for free, for both Windows and Mac, by clicking here. A high-speed internet connection also is necessary to view the broadcasts. Procession Welcome Invocation Chair Welcome Senior Class Welcome President's Remarks by Michael S. Roth ’78 Conferring of degrees Honorary degrees Commencement Address by Anna Quindlen P'07 Doctorate and graduate degrees Additional honorary degrees Undergraduate degrees (last names A-D) Undergraduate degrees (last names E-L) Undergraduate degrees (last names M-S) Undergraduate degrees (last names…
Jennifer Alexander ’88, Mark Masselli and Azim Premji ’99 were awarded Doctor of Humane Letters honorary degrees during the 177th Commencement. Remarks from the ceremony are below: Remarks by Jennifer Alexander '88 Has anyone here ever read Charlotte's Web? You remember the story of Wilbur the pig and Charlotte the spider who became best friends - But spiders don’t live very long: we all cried when Charlotte died and left Wilbur behind to care for her egg sac full of tiny baby spiders. When I was at Wesleyan, Professor Anne Greene would sometimes read children's books out loud to us…
Wesleyan held its 177th Commencement Ceremony May 24. During the event, 732 students received a Bachelor of Arts; 61 received a Master of Arts in Liberal Studies; two received a Certificate of Advanced Study; 31 received a Master of Arts; and 16 received a Doctor of Philosophy. Ten other students will receive a Bachelor of Arts upon completion. Commencement speeches, photographs and videos are now online in The Wesleyan Connection. Commencement highlights: https://newsletter.blogs.wesleyan.edu/2009/05/24/wesleyan-holds-177th-commencement-ceremonies/ Commencement Address by Anna Quindlen P'07: https://newsletter.blogs.wesleyan.edu/2009/05/24/quindlen-p07-embrace-transformation/ President's Remarks by Michael S. Roth '78: https://newsletter.blogs.wesleyan.edu/2009/05/24/president-roth-asks-class-of-2009-to-help-shape-culture/ Senior Class Welcome by Ravid Chowdhury '09: https://newsletter.blogs.wesleyan.edu/2009/05/24/chowdhury-09-leads-senior-class-welcome/ Honorary Degree Recipients remarks by…
Joseph J. Fins ’82, M.D., chair of the Alumni Association, spoke to members of the Wesleyan Gamma Chapter of Phi Beta Kappa during Reunion & Commencement Weekend. His speech was titled "Minding Time." Membership for Phi Beta Kappa is conferred for high scholastic achievement. It is a delight to be here with you today to celebrate your induction into Phi Beta Kappa. Let me add my congratulations to those of The Faculty, President Roth and your friends and family. This is a memorable day in your life and it is good that you savour this accomplishment. A former professor of…
David PesciKennedy Odede '11 grew up in Kibera, Kenya's worst slum, taught himself English and made it to Wesleyan. Now, Odede and Jessica Posner '09 have received a Projects for Peace Grant and is going back to Kibera to build a school for girls. Odede and Posner were also featured on a show on WNPR's "Where We Live" that focused on "Responding to Needs in Africa." Their part starts at roughly the 49 minute mark.
Susan Christensen from Fox61 did an extensive feature on her "Fox Focus" segment on the Green Street Arts Center and its educational offerings.
Now that the danger has passed, the grief sinks in. There is a reflective mood on the campus, a feeling of pain very intense among those who knew Johanna Justin-Jinich well, and a sense of sorrow felt by the entire Wesleyan family. At the same time, when Sophie and I went to the library on Sunday, it was full of students studying, reading, writing…and simply connecting with one another. The lacrosse team is practicing for the next round of the NCAA tournament, and the musicians are tuning up or just raising their voices in song. Students are turning in exams…