NYU’s 177th Commencement 2009, webcast requires Windows Media Player. If you’re using a Mac, that’s lame.
At the new Yankee Stadium.
10:50: Schools are marching in. How many schools does NYU have? What are we up to, 17? 18? Link: Schools at NYU.
10:57: The band sounds pretty good. Each school’s delegation is still marching in.
10:58: The NYU torch is being carried in, followed by bagpipe players (at least 14) and drummers, the NYU Pipe & Drums.
11:02: NYU President John Sexton marches in, with the delegation behind the Pipe & Drums. A moment after, US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton marches in also. John Sexton is wearing a NY Yankees baseball cap.
11:05: Is that Ben Maddox walking next to Hillary? Looks like him! :)
11:06: Hillary shakes hands with all trustees and other deans on stage. NYU Pipes & Drums continues to play. Does anybody know what song they are playing?
11:07: NYU Pipes & Drums continues to play as they march offstage.
11:08: Trumpetists and trombonists play reverie. Provost David McLaughlin convenes 177th Commencement. They place the torch in a stand.
11:09: Singing of the US national anthem, the Star Spangled Banner by Katharine Heaton, who is earning her master’s degree today.
11:12: Martin Lipton, chairman of the board of trustees of NYU. Greets graduates. Mistakenly stated NYU was founded in 1837, then corrected himself saying 1831. “NYU the largest private university in the nation, with 50 thousand students, 5 major centers of study in Manhattan and more than 30 study abroad locations worldwide, in Africa, Asia and the Middle East”. Sexton the 50th president of NYU. “Building the global university for the 21st century, from Washington Square to Madrid to Accra to Abu Dhabi to Shanghai to Buenos Aires”, a university “in and of the world”, akin to university “in and of the city”. Going out in “uncertain world” in “midst of economic crisis of great proportions”, but thankful that “effective action was taken by new presiedent to stop the decline, renew american dream of a continuously better life for all people”. Today they will grant 5 Honorary Degrees, including Hillary Rodham Clinton. Good luck and godspeed.
11:15: Hillary looks at and hides her Blackberry.
11:17: H. Dale Hemmerdinger, member of the board of trustees of NYU. “Congratulations, you made it!”
11:19: Student video on jumbotron. Excited to be graduating. Illustrious alumni: Ang Lee, ‘84. Michael Bloomberg. Martin Scorcese, Maria Bartiromo, Alec Baldwin. “Congratulations!”
11:25: Debra Lamorte, UDAR. Introduces Lewis Rudin Award for achievement of advancment in the public realm in the spirit of Lewis Rudin. John Sexton presents the Rudin award to Joel I Klein. For exemplary service to New York City.
11:29: Ellen Schall, dean of Wagner, will present student speaker, Katherine Otto. Speaks on behalf of NYU student body. Mentions economic crisis, but thinks it’s an “auspicious moment to leave security of classroom and dive head first into the storm”. Quotes from Ghanaian culture, “Sankofa” means you must know where you have been in order to know where you are going. Individuals forming community, homogeneity but “40 thousand individual students” with a lot of diversity, with all states and more than 130 countries represented. we are all connected, and the way we treat other people is the way we will find ourselves being treated. “Connect to other people and channel passion in creative and sustainable ways, with integrity, courage and kindness”. Congratulations!
11:39: Sexton hugs Kate after speaking. Investiture introduction by Diane Yu. Trustees will escort candidates for honorary degrees to the lectern.
11:41: Albert Fert, Professor of Physics, is awarded Doctor of Science. “Spintronics”. Frequent visitor to NYU, collaborator with NYU faculty. Sexton confers degree of Doctor of Science, honoris causa.
11:44: Jessie Christine Gruman, Center for Advancing Health, is being awarded Doctor of Humane Letters. Professor at George Washington University. Sexton confers degree of Doctor of Humane Letters, honoris causa.
11:48: Helen Thomas, Dean of White House Press Corps, is being awarded the Doctor of Humane Letters. “Extraordinary career in journalism”. Sexton confers degree of Doctor of Humane Letters, honoris causa.
11:52: Trustee Maria Bartiromo escorts candidate John Patrick Shanley, Steinhardt ‘77, storyteller, writer and director, who is being awarded the degree of Doctor of Letters. Son of the Bronx and Marine. Directed the movie “Doubt”. Sexton confers degree of Doctor of Letters, honoris causa.
11:53: Ellen Schall will introduce the candidate for the degree of Doctor of Law, Hillary Rodham Clinton. “Chief architect of American foreign policy”.
11:56: Sexton confers degree of Doctor of Law, honoris causa. Hillary to begin speech on behalf of honorary degree recipients.
12:00: Is aware of challenges. "There is no problem that will not yield to human" will. "Citizen diplomats, citizen activists".
12:04: "Biggest challenges will be solved by 60% of world's population, people under the age of 30". "In Colombia, two people used facebook to organize 14 million people in the largest anti-terrorism demonstration in history of the world."
12:06: Many of you used social networking sites to make Barack Obama the president of the United States of America. Understand to use young people for citizen service. Prepare to use branches of government, including the State Department. "For those still looking, the Foreign Service is hiring!" "Use communication tools at your disposal to advance the interests of this nation". "Create your own networks to meet the needs of this and future generations".
12:10: Study abroad is a two way street: bring international students to study here and bring change back to their countries. Largest program in the US. Is committed to streamline the visa process, particularly for science and technology students. Digital diplomacy, learn about it in the State Department's website. Go online and visit kiva, microcredit for Africa.
12:12: Build new partnership to address problems that cannot be solved by any one nation or people alone (flu pandemic, extreme ideology, financial crisis affects a farmer far away). "Historic opportunity"
12:15: "If it were easy, anybody could do it": quote from A League of Their Own, one of her favorite movies. Think of the diversity in the Yankees, from Mexico, Panama, Japan.. "The Dominican Republic alone is home to seven Yankees!"
12:16: "You are up to bat!" "Thank you, congratulations, and godspeed!" Hillary Clinton ends her address.
12:17: Sexton has some last words. Congratulations again.
12:19: You are our inspiration for those who remain at NYU.
12:21: Since founding, University "in, of and for the City". NYU first "glocal" university, global and local.
12:23: 15 thousand graduates, from 18 to 69 years old, from all states and corners of the globe.
12:25: Take with you the NYU attitudinal endownment. arry within you the indomitable spirit of NYU, you are part of this community even when youa re not here. we invite you, to get a hug if you wish, to recharge. the importance of you returning, to retain our vitality and our vocations. you gave so much in happy times and on the hardest day. congratulations to you and your family from the NYU family, to which you now indelibly belong.
12:27: Steinhardt singers sing a tribute to NYC. "Start spreading the news... I'm leaving today" Four ladies and four gentlemen singing "New York, New York".
12:31: Dean of each school will present the student representative for each school. Matthew Santirocco, Dean of CAS. "The Founding School of New York University" Graduates chant "CAS! CAS! CAS!" Monika Petrzak will accept her B.A on behalf of all CAS graduates.
12:32: Richard Revesz, Dean of Law. 1033 candidates will receive their degree of Law. Jianan Choo will accept on behalf of Law
12:34: Dean Grossman, School of Medicine, will lead SOM graduates thru the oath of Maimonides. 164 candidates for the degree of Doctor of Medicine. Christopher James Agrusa will accept on behalf of graduates.
12:37: 15 graduates of Master of Science program. Lydia Lolita accepts on behalf of graduates.
12:39: Charles Bertolami, Dean of College of Dentistry. And College of Nursing. 77, 270, 140 Masters, 348 Doctor in Dental Surgery, Payal Jain accepts.
12:42: Catharine Stimpson, Dean of Graduate School of Arts and Science. Presents degrees to 1768 candidates of the class of 2009 of GSAS. 77 and 270 Bachelor of Science degree. There are a lot of sunglasses being worn by the people on stage, including H. Clinton and M. Bartiromo.
12:44: Dean Brabeck, Dean of Steinhardt SOCEHD, Savetrie Bachan receives on behalf of Steinhardt graduates. Darrell Cleveland Hucks also accepts.
12:46: Sally Blount Lyon, Dean of Stern Undergraduate College. Andrew Joseph Goon receives diploman on behalf of his class.
12:48: Thomas Coolidge, Dean of Stern School of Business, 1200 MBA candidates, 3100 Masters Global Finance, 13 Doctor of Philosophy. David Edward Alan Bush receives on behalf of candidates. Ali Yurukoglu on behalf of the Ph.D candidates.
12:49: Robert Lapiner, Dean of School of Continuing and Professional Studies, 1244 candidates. Anne Scherbina accepts on behalf of candiates. Chanelle Dolbeare also accepts. Rina Gaulyte Singh also accepts.
12:52: Dean Ellen Schall, Robert F. Wagner School of Public Service, presents diploma to graduate Rachel Caitlin Davis, MPA in Public and Non-Profit Management.
12:53: Suzanne England, Dean of Silver School of Social Work. 514 candidates will receive their degrees today, enhancing the cause of social justice. John Fredrikson accepts on behalf of B.S degrees. 468 candidates for Master of Social Work accepted by Melissa Bessaha. Alexis Kuerbis accepts for the Ph.D candidates.
12:55: Dean Mary Schmidt Campbell, Dean of Tisch School of the Arts. 1300 artists, scholars and creative thinkers. Alyson Stroker, BFA, dancer (she's on a wheelchair) accepts on behalf of graduates. Hannah Kohl accepts on behalf of M.F.A candidates.
12:58: Suzanne L. Wofford, Dean of Gallatin School of Individualized Study. Charles Gelman accepts on behalf of the B.A candidates. Laura Terruso accepts for 93 candidates for the M.A degree.
13:01: Fred Schwarzbach, Dean of Programs/Liberal Studies. for Associate of Arts Degrees.
Upal Kunal Basu Roy accepts M.P.H from Dean Bertolami
13:03: Provost McLoughlin passes the torch, from Norman Dorsen (Law), to the youngest baccalaurate, 18 years old, CAS.
13:03: John Sexton confers degree for which graduates were recommended by the deans. "Congratulations to you all!" Reverie.
13:04: Join the singing of the Alma Mater. "access to the field is strictly prohibited by law".
13:06: Procession leaves stage, led by the youngest baccalaureate carrying the NYU torch. Background music plays.
13:07: The end of the webcast.