Commencement 2006

ON A SUNNY AND HUMID DAY IN MAY, 610 BLACK-GOWNED MEMBERS OF THE CLASS OF 2006 RECEIVED THEIR DIPLOMAS AND THEN RACED TO FIND SHADE—AND PERHAPS A CUP OF CHAMPAGNE—ON THE LIBRARY LAWN.

Commencement speaker William F. Schulz, executive director of Amnesty International, struck an inspirational note. Schulz reminded the graduating class that com-passion is the highest human virtue, and choice the greatest responsibility.

“The story is not over,” he said. “The end is not here yet. For it is not just the king but the knight, not just the queen but the rook, not just the bishop but the pawn, not just the wealthy but the pauper, not just the powerful but every starving, lonely, frightened person in the world, every single person, every single one of us, who has another move. We all have another move.

“We are engaged today in an enormous struggle for the soul of this country. It is a struggle between those who would close down culture and those who would keep it open. Between those who welcome the preeminence of one nation and those who give their fealty to the common interests of the globe. It is, in short, a struggle between those with a parched vision and those with a generous heart. I suggest that this institution and every institution like it has pledged itself to one side of that equation and, to you who graduate today I have a very simple message: wear the mantle of these values proudly; give no quarter; yield to no adversary; fear no shadows; let your voices roar and make the mountains tremble.”

To read Schulz’ entire speech, visit www.vassar.edu/commencement.