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1、BaccalaureateaddresstoClassof2008TheMemorialChurchCambridge,Mass.June3,2008AspreparedfordeliveryInthecuriouscustomofthisvenerableinstitution,Ifindmyselfstandingbeforeyouexpectedtoimpartwordsoflastingwisdom.HereIaminapulpit,dressedlikeaPuritanminister—anapparitionthatwouldh
2、avehorrifiedmanyofmydistinguishedforebearsandperhapsrededicatedsomeofthemtotheextirpationofwitches.ThismomentwouldhavepropelledIncreaseandCottonintoatrue“Matherlather.”ButhereIamandthereyouareanditisthemomentofandforVeritas.Youhavebeenundergraduatesforfouryears.Ihavebeenpr
3、esidentfornotquiteone.Youhaveknownthreepresidents;Ioneseniorclass.Wherethenliesthevoiceofexperience?Maybeyoushouldbeofferingthewisdom.PerhapsourrolescouldbereversedandIcould,inHarvardLawSchoolstyle,docoldcallsforthenexthourorso.Wealldoseemtohavemadeittothispoint—moreorless
4、inonepiece.ThoughIrecentlylearnedthatwehavenotprovidedyouwithdinnersinceMay22.IknowweneedtoweanyoufromHarvardinafigurativesense.Ineverknewwetookitquitesoliterally.Butlet’sreturntothatnotionofcoldcallsforamoment.Let’simaginethiswereabaccalaureateserviceintheformofQ&A,andyou
5、wereaskingthequestions.“Whatisthemeaningoflife,PresidentFaust?WhatwerethesefouryearsatHarvardfor?PresidentFaust,youmusthavelearnedsomethingsinceyougraduatedfromcollegeexactly40yearsago?”(Fortyyears.I’llsayitoutloudsinceeverydetailofmylife—andcertainlytheyearofmyBrynMawrdeg
6、ree—nowseemstobepubliclyavailable.ButpleaserememberIwasyoungformyclass.)Inaway,youhavebeenengagingmeinthisQ&Aforthepastyear.Onjustthesequestions,althoughyouhavephrasedthemabitmorenarrowly.AndIhavebeentryingtofigureouthowImightanswerand,perhapsmoreintriguingly,whyyouwereask
7、ing.Letmeexplain.ItactuallybeganwhenImetwiththeUCjustaftermyappointmentwasannouncedinthewinterof2007.ThenthequestionscontinuedwhenIhadlunchatKirklandHouse,dinneratLeverett,whenImetwithstudentsinmyofficehours,evenwithsomerecentgraduatesIencounteredabroad.Thefirstthingyouask
8、edmeaboutwasn’tthecurriculumoradvisingorfacultycontactorevenstudentspace.Infact,itwasn’te