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At the University’s 264th Baccalaureate ceremony held on Sunday afternoon in the University Chapel, New York City Mayor Michael Bloomberg opened his remarks with humor but delivered a serious message on the importance of service, invoking the University’s informal motto of “Princeton in the nation’s service and the service of all nations.”
In President Shirley Tilghman’s introduction of Bloomberg, she praised his “exceptional reach of generosity” and his socially inclusive, invigorating policies as both the founder of multibillion-dollar media company Bloomberg LP and as mayor of New York City.
Bloomberg has been mayor since 2001 and is also a noted philanthropist and father of Emma Bloomberg ’01, after whom Butler College’s dormitory Bloomberg Hall is named. He was chosen to speak at the ceremony earlier this year by Tilghman, with input from the Class of 2011 officers.
He began his talk by jesting about the humid weather, the famous buzzer-beater shot by Doug Davis ’12 in the recent Ivy League basketball championship and the “pagan beer-drinking festival” he had witnessed at the Reunions tents.
To the graduates, he joked, “You’re leaving now, and next year’s seniors are slated to get the highest grades in Princeton history since Dean [Nancy] Malkiel is also leaving,” eliciting the ceremony’s strongest bout of laughter.
Putting lightheartedness aside, however, Bloomberg highlighted the significance of his address occurring over Memorial Day weekend and the importance of remembering those who had fallen in the nation’s service.
“We must remember that it’s up to us — not just our military, but all of us — to stand up and defend it when we see freedom threatened or denied,” he said. Bloomberg described how he supported the release of imprisoned Chinese artist Ai Weiwei, the construction of a Muslim mosque near the Ground Zero site and legislation supporting marriage equality.
He praised the younger generation for its support of marriage rights and its ability to spark revolutions across the world as seen in the uprisings “that now spread like wildfire” in many Arab countries.
“There may be no greater way to repay those American soldiers who died for our country than to spread the freedoms Americans enjoy around the world,” he said. “So keep it up.”
Bloomberg also stressed the importance of choosing the right course as opposed to the easiest or most popular. He quoted Woodrow Wilson, Class of 1879, saying, “ ‘What’s right is more precious than peace — and we shall fight for the things that we have always carried nearest our hearts.’ ”
Not doing what’s right has led to the “big problem” with partisanship in American politics today, he said. Bloomberg reminded the graduating class, “Don’t forget what you have been taught here at Princeton.”
“You have all been fortunate to be part of an institution that’s always put an emphasis on practical thinking, real-world solutions and sticking to the facts,” he added.
Bloomberg also expressed how encouraged he was that young people are leading the growth of independent voting and social entrepreneurship.
He cited the achievements of Lide Paterno ’06 and Rishi Jaitly ’04, who founded organizations respectively benefiting a village in Tanzania and Michigan’s economy, as examples of how young University alumni have striven to change the world.
“As busy as you will be in your careers, and as you start families, always find time to give back to others,” Bloomberg advised the soon-to-be graduates. According to the mayor, who has dedicated much of his three terms in office to issues such as education, public health, environmental sustainability and civic affairs, volunteering “is the glue that binds us together as Americans.”
Closing with advice for the senior class, he added in another joke. “Whether you are about to enter the world of banking and finance, or — well, I guess that pretty much covers everybody,” he said.
Still, Bloomberg expressed confidence in the class’ ability to face any “challenging times” ahead. “Your talent, your energy, your vigorous commitment to the truth is what will carry you through,” he said.
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