University holds 259th Commencement

The University conferred 1,108 undergraduate degrees and 661 graduate degrees Tuesday as a crowd of approximately 7,000 guests observed Princeton's 259th Commencement ceremony on the front lawn of Nassau Hall.

The event, which featured speeches from students and President Tilghman, and culminated with seniors' symbolic exit out FitzRandolph Gate, marked the end of the three days of graduation ceremonies.

Former President Bill Clinton spoke to graduating seniors during Class Day activities Monday while humorist David Sedaris delivered Sunday's Baccalaureate address.

In her Commencement remarks to the Class of 2006, Tilghman emphasized the importance of both having strong ideals and keeping an open mind.

"You are about to enter a world in which the nature and quality of public discourse has been impoverished, with too many people closed off from serious intellectual inquiry and the ideas of others, listening only to those who are of like mind on TV news shows, radio talk shows and Internet blogs," Tilghman told the class.

Tilghman added that she hoped students, during their years at Princeton, had gained "a determination to follow [their] passions in service to the common good, an openness to new ideas, and a willingness to engage in civil discourse with integrity and mutual respect." (Read full transcript.)

Christopher Douthitt '06, a music major from Spokane, Wash., delivered the ceremony's valedictory address, calling upon his classmates to follow their passions, wherever they may lead them.

"I can think of no more relevant wisdom than to find whatever it is that constitutes the source material of your life, and to keep extracting that material throughout the years," he said. (Full transcript.)

Audience members applauded as Douthitt referred to "the intellectually toxic culture of our time." "This culture respects power more than ability, it respects answers more than inquiry and it respects naked opinion more than nuance," he said.

Referencing his high school valedictory address, in which he informed his classmates that, because the life expectancy in America is 77 years, they were technically 23 percent dead, Douthitt said, "Let's all remember that we are young. Let's all have the presence of mind to do stupid, bold things with our lives, and to never take ourselves so seriously that we can't toss everything we've learned out the window if the time calls for it."

"Good luck with the next 69.444 percent of your lives," he added.

Salutatorian Dan-el Padilla Peralta '06, who delivered the traditional Latin Salutatory Oration, took the opportunity to thank Tilghman, Dean of the College Nancy Malkiel, and former Dean of Admission Fred Hargadon, and to provide commentary on undergraduate social life.

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"When I came to this very distinguished University four years ago, I was not able to understand why it was so pleasing to you, my fellow students, to be decked out in purple or pink," Padilla said.

"Today I confess the truth: I still don't understand," he added. (Full transcript.)

Padilla, a Sachs prize winner and classics major from New York who made headlines recently after revealing himself to be an illegal immigrant, also had words of wisdom for his fellow classmates. Quoting Cicero, he said, "Wisdom would not be sought out, if it could not accomplish anything."

"Let us use our knowledge for the glory of Princeton and the advancement of humankind," Padilla added.

Retiring English professor John V. Fleming GS '63, who has been a member of the faculty for 40 years, was specifically honored during the exercises. Tilghman praised him as "a gifted scholar [and] a beloved teacher."

Honorary doctoral degrees were given to biology professor John T. Bonner; Paul E. Farmer, physician and founding director of Partners in Health, an organization that provides health care to the impoverished; soccer star Mia Hamm; Nobel Prize-winning poet Seamus Heaney; education pioneer and mentor Freeman A. Hrabowski III; and union activist Dolores Huerta,.

Four University professors were also honored. The President's Awards for Distinguished Teaching, which recognize exceptional undergraduate and graduate teaching by faculty members, were bestowed upon physics professor William Bialek, psychology professor Joel Cooper, English professor William Gleason and chemical engineering professor Sankaran Sundaresan.

With a "Avete Atqve Valete," or "Hail and Farewell," in the ceremony's program, Tilghman concluded the exercises with a hope for the Class of 2006.

"Aim high and be bold," she said.