Summer 2003
Celebrating a Shared Accomplishment
Graduates and Honorary Degree Recipients Take Center
Stage in Recognition of Their Achievements, Offer Thanks to Faculty
and Family
By Greg
Licamele
With the bookends on the Ellipse of the White House and the Washington
Monument, GWs May 18 Commencement lauded the accomplishments of
the Class of 2003, distinguished alumni, honored guests, faculty members,
and the spirit of knowledge and justice.
As the rain ended minutes before the academic procession began, the
words and symbols of Commencement brightened the morning for 5,000 graduates
and their guests.
Virginia Gov. Mark Warner, a 1977 GW graduate, delivered the keynote
address, marked with personal touches. Warner remembered his bike rides
to Capitol Hill for internships, living in Thurston Hall, and liberating
ice cream from the cafeteria.
The Democrat shared three lessons he wished he had heard at his Commencement
26 years ago: dont be afraid to fail, treat other people well,
and talk with family and friends.
Every person here that is graduating should find your parents
and say: Thank you and I love you, Warner said. Itll
make them feel good and itll make you feel good as well, because,
lets face it, in this world billions of people will never even
be able to dream of going to college or graduate school, and you didnt
make it here on your own. Your family helped you get here, and they
wont be around forever. So go ahead and say it.
Warner noted the technical proficiencies that graduates learned in their
time at GW, preparing them to enter a complicated world.
In the more complex world that you live in youll also need
wisdom to find your way; and this University has equipped you to develop
that wisdom by giving you that solid foundation in the liberal arts
and by assembling one of the most diverse campuses in America, taking
place all right here in Washington, DC, Warner said.
Twenty-six years after Warner was the student speaker at his graduation,
School of Business and Public Management graduate Rachel Talbot spoke
on behalf of her fellow graduates. She imparted the wisdom that not
all people need to be memorable in order to make a difference in the
world. She cited the Chinese official Tsai Lun, the inventor of
paper.
While reading a book one summer, Talbot discovered that the Chinese
man was ranked seventh on a list of the most influential people in history
because of his invention that helped spread knowledge.
In looking back through history, many great empires have been
created through the use of bloodshed, war, and violence, Talbot
said. But whereas not one of those great empires still exist today,
the use of paper to spread knowledge has continued to be invaluable
to the human race.
Talbot said the gift of knowledge equips humans to stand for what is
right and to speak for those who are silenced in any way.
We have the weapons that can kill those who create injustice,
but only knowledge can kill injustice itself, Talbot said. As
the story of Tsai Lun teaches us, your name need not be remembered
throughout all of history in order to have a lasting influence on the
world.
Warner reflected on the theme of justice in his remarks, asking the
graduates to reject intolerance.
So when uncertain times tempt you toward intolerance, I hope youll
look back at your time here and reject that false choice, Warner
said. When you have the chance to get ahead at the expense of
another, I hope youll respect the community. When you have the
choice between surrendering to a sound byte and wrestling with the nuances
of a complex issue, I hope youll choose reflection.
In addition to awarding Warner with an honorary degree, four other people
were honored: former Sen. Jean Carnahan, Madeleine Jacobs, Sheldon Cohen,
and jazz legend Billy Taylor.
Carnahan, Jacobs, and Cohen, all GW graduates, expressed thanks and
gratitude to their alma mater for the honor and for their educations.
GW has given you more than a diploma, Carnahan said to the
graduates. It has given you an education, and with it the duty
to improve our communities and to improve lives. Dont just do
well; do good.
Cohen, former IRS commissioner, GW Law professor, and Board of Trustees
member, reflected on a paperweight his wife gave him, which read, Luck
is when opportunity met preparation.
I discovered in most of my life that the harder I worked the luckier
I got, Cohen said. I hope each of you will set a goal, and
a part of that goal ought to be to make the world just a little bit
better.
As editor of Chemical & Engineering News, Jacobs has worked
to explain science to the world. She urged the Class of 2003 to bridge
a growing gap between the science culture and the arts and humanities.
Recent events have shown us what can happen when cultures fail
to communicate with each other, Jacobs said. The great challenge
facing you, graduates, is to understand cultures widely different from
your own and find ground on the landscape of our common humanity.
Reciting lyrics from one of his many songs, Taylor prompted students
to show concern for others.
I challenge you to be able to show people just what youve
become today, Taylor said.
Send feedback to: bygeorge@gwu.edu