May 29, 2001
Sunshine, speakers herald Class of 2001 By Michael Terrazas mterraz@emory.edu
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Another year, another sea of mortarboards and another spectacular May day, as nearly 3,300 anxious graduates and their families and friends packed the Quadrangle May 14 for the Universitys 156th Commencement exercises. At precisely 8 a.m.regular announcements over the PA system counted
down the minutes before the ceremony beganthe kilt-clad Atlanta
Pipe Band squeezed its bagpipes and launched into the Emory and
Old St. Andrews March, written by Henry Frantz 71C, 74L
in honor of Emorys sister University of St. Andrews in Scotland.
Chief Marshal Ray DuVarney led the procession of faculty and administrators
through the gathered throng to the platform in front of Pitts Library. One thing was certain for this latest of Emory Commence-ments: It did not lack for speakers. After Susan Henry-Crowe, dean of the Chapel and Religious Life, delivered the invocation, Class of 2001 speaker Deborah Lipstadt, Dorot Professor of Modern Jewish and Holocaust Studies, held forth for nearly 10 minutes. She spoke of her fight last year in British court against an accusation of libel from Holocaust denier David Irving and of the lessons she learned from the battleand her victory. Later, in conjunction with the appropriate schools conferrence of their degrees, each of Emorys four 2001 honorary degree recipientsElias Chacour, Bradley Currey, Richard Goldstone and Charlayne Hunter-Gaultdelivered brief remarks. But sterling speakers befit a sterling class, and the Class of 2001 boasts
sparkling credentials to go along with its diverse demographics. President
Bill Chace ran down the litany of statistics: 55 percent women to 45 percent
men, 47 of 50 U.S. states represented; 193 international students from
53 countries; 31 graduates over 50 years of age; a 19-year-old bachelors
candidate and a 56-year-old bachelors recipients. The oldest member
of the Class of 2001 is 66-year-old masters of divinity recipient
Sharon Hibbert from the School of Theology. The University also honored individual achievement in the main ceremony: Hetal Doshi, a graduating Emory College senior, took home the Marion Luther Brittain Service Award, Emorys most prestigious student honor. Marshall Duke, C.H. Candler Professor of Personality and Psychopathology, received the Thomas Jefferson Award for significant service through personal activities, influence and leadership; and Art Kellermann, chair of emergency medicine and director of the Center for Injury Control, was awarded the University Scholar/Teacher Award, presented on behalf of the United Methodist Board of Higher Education and Ministry. |