Let us never stop asking critical questions.
Let us never allow fear to stifle our voices when we witness dishonesty or injustice.
Let us never stigmatize those who are different from us instead of seeking to understand such
individuals.
Thank you, and congratulations to the class of 2017!
You have been described as courageous, compassionate, confident, comfortable, committed, caring.
It is no surprise then that your 14 years as chairman of the Boston University Parents
Leadership Council has been some of the most dynamic in BU’s history.
Jeanne Knox, we are proud to confer upon you the degree Doctor of Humane Letters, honoris
causa.
Your relationship with Boston University began in the 1970s when you earned a BA and an MBA here.
For 20 years you served as a trustee of the University, 8 as chairman, before stepping
down last September.
Robert A. Knox, businessman, alumnus, trustee, and above all friend, we are proud to confer
upon you the degree of Doctor of Laws honoris causa.
Your pioneering work in atmospheric chemistry identified the effects of man-made emissions
on the atmosphere.
In 1995 you were awarded a Nobel Prize in Chemistry for this work.
You’ve helped launch the study of man-made climate change, an issue so vital to potentially
be existential.
Mario Molina, we confer upon you the degree of Doctor of Laws, honoris causa.
541 home runs, 1768 runs batted in, a .455 World Series batting average.
[cheering]
Your statistics tell the story of baseball’s greatest designated hitter.
Your leadership has been evident outside the ballpark as well, in your tireless, generous
charity work.
David Ortiz, athlete, philanthropist, leader, Big Papi, Boston University proudly confers
upon you the degree Doctor of Humane Letters, honoris causa.
Thank you very much.
Your unflinching dedication to quality work led to you producing your own shows and ultimately
to broad recognition as one of the most powerful women in entertainment.
Today as the chair of NBCUniversal Cable Entertainment you sit atop a sprawling empire that includes
the USA, SyFy, E!, Bravo, and Oxygen Networks.
Bonnie Hammer, we are proud to call you an alumna, and even prouder to confer upon you
the degree Doctor of Humane Letters, honoris causa.
I encourage you to take the time to figure out where other people are coming from - literally
and figuratively.
Learn about your own blind spots.
Acknowledge your own fears.
Listen to podcasts that make you angry.
Read things that make you uncomfortable.
Talk with, not at, people with different points of view.
When you step outside of your own bubble, you’ll develop empathy for people with whom
you disagree.
You’ll develop a strong sense of self and become a better advocate for what you believe.
Thank you, and congratulations class of 2017.
Upon the recommendation of the faculty, I hereby confer upon you the degrees which you
have earned together with all appropriate honors, privileges, and responsibilities.
In token of which you are granted diplomas.
My congratulations to all of you.