Student Achievement

From the podium

From the podium Commencement at Berkeley is a time for celebration, inspiration, and often unconventional words of wisdom. Here is a brief sampling of Class of ’07 sendoffs, from ceremonies held in dozens of schools, colleges, and departments

Peg Skorpinski photos

Privilege
“For the past several years, you have had a special privilege — attending a great public university, one of humankind’s most remarkable and admirable creations….”
— Prof. Robert Kagan, Law and Political Science

Moments
“You’ve learned that, yes, scholarship can be tedious… But you have also experienced those moments of pure excitement when you know
you have found something new, or have put something together in a totally new way.
— Prof. Ronelle Alexander, Slavic Languages and Literatures

Subversion
“Throughout history, the fear has persisted that teachers, students,
intellectuals, writers, poets, artists, and musicians are more likely
than most to disturb the peace, that we are peculiarly susceptible to
subversion. We are.”
— Prof. Leon Litwack, History

Learning
“All of you will face the challenge of too much information and the great need to organize, prioritize, and synthesize. I sincerely doubt that any of you will ever give up on learning.”
— Prof. Andrew Fire, Pathology and Genetics, Stanford, Berkeley alumnus and 2006 Nobel laureate in Medicine

Learning
“You have received the very best training in cell and molecular biology available anywhere in the world. Well done, and you achieved this at just a fraction of the cost of what the schmucks at Stanford paid for similar, possibly inferior, training.”
— Prof. Michael Levine, Genetics and Development

For more on commencement and Berkeley’s top graduates, visit
newscenter.berkeley.edu/goto/commence2007