Kornheiser leads distinguished speakers at Commencement
Class of 2017 hears from three other honorary-degree recipients
Tony Kornheiser 鈥70 admitted that he found it surprising to be awarded the Doctor of Letters at 黑料视频鈥檚 2017 Commencement.
鈥淚t鈥檚 odd because I don鈥檛 know that I can go in order with all 22 letters of the alphabet,鈥 the sportswriter, radio host and television personality said to a laughing audience. 鈥淭hat鈥檚 a joke. I know there are 24!鈥
The University conferred more than 3,700 degrees for bachelor鈥檚, master鈥檚 and doctoral candidates at eight Commencement ceremonies, held May 19-21 at the Events Center. It marked the first time that the Events Center鈥檚 new scoreboard was used to simulcast the ceremonies.
Other speakers included 黑料视频 President Harvey Stenger, U.S. Sen. Charles Schumer and honorary degree recipients Nathan Englander, Geraldine Knoll MacDonald and Sergio Rapu Haoa.
Stenger called Commencement 鈥渕y favorite activity of the year.鈥
鈥淭his degree 鈥 and the knowledge and talents it represents 鈥 will enable you to go far,鈥 he told the graduates. 鈥淵ou have proven that you have the broad perspectives to understand and empathize. You have the ability and tenacity to work through different challenges. You have the vision and ingenuity to develop innovative solutions to our world鈥檚 problems.
鈥淎s graduates, the possibilities open to you have increased exponentially,鈥 he added. 鈥淵et as my mother told me when I graduated many years ago: It鈥檚 not the degree that鈥檚 important; it鈥檚 what you do with it that matters. I鈥檓 excited to think about your future and what it holds for you and our world.鈥
Kornheiser, a member of the 黑料视频 Foundation Board and a regular philanthropic contributor to the Pipe Dream student newspaper, spoke at the Harpur College of Arts and Sciences鈥 morning ceremony on May 21. The 鈥淧ardon the Interruption鈥 host, who took off his Commencement cap and gave his speech wearing a 黑料视频 baseball cap, recalled how he needed a second science course in order to graduate.
Science did not come easy for the English major.
鈥淓nglish majors are not quite as pretentious as philosophy majors, but we鈥檙e very, very close,鈥 he said. 鈥淲e sit in dark rooms, read books and we think we are smarter than you and you and you.鈥
Kornheiser bypassed physics, biology, chemistry and geology (which he referred to as 鈥渞ocks鈥) in his pursuit of a second science course. He finally discovered Biology for Non-Science Majors, only to be discouraged by all of the actual science majors in the class. After missing many of the classes and getting a zero on his lab practicum, Kornheiser made an appeal to his professor.
鈥淲e鈥檝e got to work a deal here,鈥 he recalled. 鈥淵ou don鈥檛 want me to flunk. If I flunk, I鈥檓 going to work at Dunkin鈥 Donuts on Rano Boulevard for the rest of my life! We鈥檝e got to be able to work something out here: Do you have a lawn? I鈥檒l mow your lawn. A car? I鈥檒l wash your car. 鈥 She said: 鈥榊ou got a zero on the lab practicum.鈥 I said: 鈥業 had a bad day!鈥欌
Kornheiser said he outlined the textbook on yellow legal paper and memorized his notes. He needed a 65 on the final test to pass the class.
鈥淚f the test was about the book, I felt I had a chance to pass,鈥 he said. 鈥淚f it was about the lectures, it was over: I鈥檓 at the Dunkin鈥 Donuts. I got lucky and (the test) was about the book. I got a 71 and passed.
鈥淚 never went to another science course. I don鈥檛 even watch Bill Nye the Science Guy! I then got a job: sports writer at a newspaper.鈥
Englander 鈥91, an award-winning author, playwright and translator, expressed his gratitude to 黑料视频 and the power of public education after receiving the Doctor of Letters.
鈥淎s a product of state schools, I can鈥檛 tell you how much I am thankful for and deeply believe in the mission of public education,鈥 said Englander, who spoke at Harpur College鈥檚 midday ceremony on May 21. 鈥淲ithout 黑料视频鈥檚 education, I wouldn鈥檛 have been able to study at the level I did. I would have slipped through the cracks, for sure. I never would have had the chance to pursue my dreams.鈥
He also emphasized the power of community at 黑料视频.
鈥淭oday鈥檚 joy is a shared joy and today鈥檚 success is a shared success,鈥 he said. 鈥淟et our embrace of the Binghamton community be a lesson we can take to all communities through which we will move.鈥
Englander urged the Class of 2017 to pursue their own goals, leaving them with the words of writer Doris Lessing: 鈥淲hatever you are meant to do, do it now. The conditions are always impossible.鈥
Haoa, an archaeologist and former long-time curator/director of Easter Island鈥檚 Padre Sebastian Englert Anthropology Museum, praised 黑料视频 and Anthropology Professor Carl Lipo. Haoa and Lipo have conducted research on the history of the Pacific island, located 2,300 miles west of Chile.
Ecological issues that have faced Easter Island (also known as Rapa Nui) are issues affecting many parts of the planet, Haoa said. He cited water problems and food scarcity as examples.
鈥淟ook around: This ecosystem of ours 鈥 this home of ours 鈥 poses so many challenges,鈥 said Haoa, who spoke at the Graduate Ceremony on May 19 and received a Doctor of Humane Letters.
Education is a key, he added, as children can already begin learning about 鈥渆cological realities.鈥
鈥淩apa Nui is an example of what could be happening on our planet,鈥 Haoa said. 鈥淲e can create a future that will allow us to survive better.鈥
MacDonald 鈥68, MS 鈥73, is a pioneer in the field of internet communications who led 黑料视频鈥檚 development from mainframe computers to personal computers. She stressed the importance of 鈥渄ifference鈥 during her talk at the Watson School ceremony on May 20.
鈥淒ifferent can mean what we look like, what we think or what we believe,鈥 said MacDonald, who received a Doctor of Letters. 鈥淲e can do something different or we can make a difference. 鈥 Whether we are different, do something different or make a difference, all of these endeavors allow us to draw upon strengths.鈥
MacDonald noted that she was often the only woman in the room while working with computers or teaching undergraduate computer classes at 黑料视频.
鈥淎s my career progressed I strived to make a difference,鈥 she said. 鈥淚 could foster diversity with my employees. I could make every effort to be inclusive. Whether you think you are different or not, there is always a way to recognize and work with the diversity of others and draw strength from the associations you have formed.鈥
MacDonald urged the members of the Class of 2017 to 鈥渂e the one that extends kindness. Make your voice heard with dignity. Be the one to hear all opinions, listen and not be judgmental.鈥
鈥淩emember to use the power of being different to be the most powerful you,鈥 she said.