Paul Farmer chosen as Baccalaureate speaker

Philanthropist and physician Paul Farmer will be June's Baccalaureate speaker, Class of 2008 officers announced yesterday.

"Dr. Farmer fights for the most poor and vulnerable people in the world," Class of 2008 president Tom Haine said. "He brings the perfect theme as we graduate and hopefully move on to similarly self-giving careers."

Farmer, a professor in Harvard Medical School's social medicine department, co-founded Partners in Health (PIH) in 1987. PIH, which has ongoing projects in Haiti, Rwanda, Peru, Russia and elsewhere, provides healthcare services around the world and acts as an advocate for those living in poverty.

"Paul Farmer is an inspiration to us all — his work in Haiti, Peru, the United States, the Soviet Union and other parts of the world has helped millions of people, and he cares immensely for each and every one of his patients," Class of 2008 vice president Katie Lawrence said in an email. "We're ecstatic that he is coming to speak at our Commencement."

The announcement was met with approval by some students on campus.

Tim Cheston '08 said he expects Farmer's speech to instruct graduates in "how to use a world-class education like Princeton's to serve the neediest population[s] around the world."

Josh Blaine '08 agreed, adding that in addition to being an accomplished individual, Farmer "is a very articulate and well-spoken person. He is not afraid to request a lot from the people he is talking to, and will make people [in the audience] think about their impact in the world."

Despite some students' praise of the Baccalaureate speaker choice, Farmer is not universally known among the senior class. "All I know about him is that he's a philanthropist," Paul Kompfner '08 said.

Farmer will give his address on Sunday, June 1, in the University Chapel during the interfaith Baccalaureate service, during which a guest speaker customarily offers advice to the graduating class.

Class of 2008 officers had put together a list of candidates, and President Tilghman herself extends invitations to individuals on the list at her discretion, Haine explained. He added that Farmer was the class' first choice.

Farmer joins comedian Stephen Colbert, the Class Day speaker, in the graduation weekend festivities.

The "Colbert-Farmer lineup is one that future years will have to compete against," Cheston said. "I couldn't be happier ... I'll be there in the front row."