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今年哈佛校长给本科学生的毕业演讲.doc

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BaccalaureateaddresstoClassof2008TheMemorialChurchCambridge,Mass.June3,2008AspreparedfordeliveryInthecuriouscustomofthisvenerableinstitution,Ifindmyselfstandingbeforeyouexpectedtoimpartwordsoflastingwisdom.HereIaminapulpit,dressedlikeaPuritanminister—anapparitionthatwouldhavehorrifiedmanyofmydistinguishedforebearsandperhapsrededicatedsomeofthemtotheextirpationofwitches.ThismomentwouldhavepropelledIncreaseandCottonintoatrue“Matherlather.”ButhereIamandthereyouareanditisthemomentofandforVeritas.Youhavebeenundergraduatesforfouryears.Ihavebeenpresidentfornotquiteone.Youhaveknownthreepresidents;Ioneseniorclass.Wherethenliesthevoiceofexperience?Maybeyoushouldbeofferingthewisdom.PerhapsourrolescouldbereversedandIcould,inHarvardLawSchoolstyle,docoldcallsforthenexthourorso.Wealldoseemtohavemadeittothispoint—moreorlessinonepiece.ThoughIrecentlylearnedthatwehavenotprovidedyouwithdinnersinceMay22.IknowweneedtoweanyoufromHarvardinafigurativesense.Ineverknewwetookitquitesoliterally.Butlet’sreturntothatnotionofcoldcallsforamoment.Let’simaginethiswereabaccalaureateserviceintheformofQ&A,andyouwereaskingthequestions.“Whatisthemeaningoflife,PresidentFaust?WhatwerethesefouryearsatHarvardfor?PresidentFaust,youmusthavelearnedsomethingsinceyougraduatedfromcollegeexactly40yearsago?”(Fortyyears.I’llsayitoutloudsinceeverydetailofmylife—andcertainlytheyearofmyBrynMawrdegree—nowseemstobepubliclyavailable.ButpleaserememberIwasyoungformyclass.)Inaway,youhavebeenengagingmeinthisQ&Aforthepastyear.Onjustthesequestions,althoughyouhavephrasedthemabitmorenarrowly.AndIhavebeentryingtofigureouthowImightanswerand,perhapsmoreintriguingly,whyyouwereasking.Letmeexplain.ItactuallybeganwhenImetwiththeUCjustaftermyappointmentwasannouncedinthewinterof2007.ThenthequestionscontinuedwhenIhadlunchatKirklandHouse,dinneratLeverett,whenImetwithstudentsinmyofficehours,evenwithsomerecentgraduatesIencounteredabroad.Thefirstthingyouaskedmeaboutwasn’tthecurriculumoradvisingorfacultycontactorevenstudentspace.Infact,itwas