Gibson ’65 jokes with seniors at 2010 Class Day address

Charlie Gibson ’65, former anchor of ABC’s “World News,” did not attend his own Class Day 45 years ago. He didn’t want his four years at the University to end, he explained during his Class Day speech Monday morning. But, Gibson assured the Class of 2010 that students remain connected to the University, even after graduation.

As keynote speaker, Gibson urged members of the graduating class to make a difference once they walked out FitzRandolph Gate but not to forget their time at the University.

“Above all, I want for all of you to matter,” he said, explaining that making an impact requires compassion, honesty, fairness and trustworthiness, among other personal characteristics.

Gibson also stressed the importance of adhering to values throughout life and encouraging others to do the same. Turning to his own industry — journalism — he called upon the class to “hold the media accountable,” and warned that “when a network says it’s ‘fair and balanced,’ it probably isn’t,” referring to the motto of Fox News. Objectivity has become difficult to find in mainstream media, but the audience has a responsibility to search for it, Gibson said.

Gibson began his speech — which he delivered while wearing his new Class of 2010 beer jacket as an honorary member of the class — by quoting an article from The Daily Princetonian about his “unusually late” selection as Class Day speaker. He assured the audience that he was indeed not the first choice of the Class Day co-chairs, joking that the final selection must have come down to him and “Freddy the stock boy.”

He then read joke excerpts from 10 rejection letters written by potential Class Day speakers, which he said he received from President Shirley Tilghman.

Talk show host Oprah Winfrey said that “Princeton has made the waitlist,” and the Duchess of York Sarah Ferguson demanded $40,000 to speak, Gibson joked, referring to an undercover report that revealed Ferguson attempted to sell media access to her ex-husband, Prince Andrew. First Lady Michelle Obama ’85 declined an offer to speak because “the rutabagas will be coming up in my garden,” and the actress Lindsey Lohan wrote her apology in crayon, Gibson said. Former Alaska governor and vice presidential contender Sarah Palin responded, “Where’s New Jersey? Can I see it from my backyard?” The top candidate — Will Ferrell, the star actor in the movie “Anchorman” — wrote in his rejection, “I’m too busy being a real anchorman. Get a fake one, like Gibson.”

Tilghman addressed the graduating class at the beginning of the ceremony, remarking on the class’s penchant for procrastination and shaky USG elections. “You have the nerve to blame Dean [of the College Nancy] Malkiel for your grades,” she joked, instead placing the blame on the popular computer game Robot Unicorn Attack, and she compared USG elections — which have been troubled by errors and re-votes in recent years — to those of North Korea and Tajikistan. She also said she was interested to discover that users of the website PrincetonFML.com referred to her as “T-Dog.”

Student speakers delivered their traditional addresses at Class Day, as well.

During his speech, Class of 2010 president Aditya Panda urged his classmates to look to their left and right, since chances are that one student will eventually become a Supreme Court justice. He also told personal stories, recounting the time he forgot to wear a shirt to precept and explaining that he was frequently “hosed” from date proposals. He lamented the fact that “there is unfortunately no such thing as a sign-in girl.”

Becca Foresman ’10 and Zach Zimmerman ’10 both reflected fondly upon their time at the University. Zimmerman called the school his family. He said that many students consider their friends to be like brothers and sisters, but added that “some of us have sex with each other.” Foresman compared the University to Eden before donning a clown nose and saluting the class with a cheer of “carpe ridiculum.”

The Class of 2010 welcomed five honorary members in addition to Gibson: Janet Dickerson, the retiring vice president for campus life; Jim Consolloy, the former University grounds manager who retired in January; Devon Wessman-Smerdon ’05, program coordinator for the Office of the Dean of Undergraduate Students; Building Services worker Mark Oresic; and Marjorie Young, director of Community House.