Obama Crashes My College Reunion

Wesleyan University, my alma mater, is a small liberal arts school that gets a disproportionate amount of media coverage, usually for its uber-liberal ways. It has made the press for having a naked dorm and co-ed rooms. This time we made the headlines, and we didn't have to take our clothes off. Sen. Barack Obama veered from the campaign trail to give Sunday's commencement address for Wesleyan's class of 2008.

I happened to be going to the campus this weekend to celebrate my five-year reunion. I flew in to Connecticut from Los Angeles; others came from as far as Madrid and Buenos Aires. We left behind spouses, fiances and at least one baby so we could focus on each other and our memories. We love our Wesleyan.

The news that Obama was replacing the recently ill Sen. Edward M. Kennedy as commencement speaker broke on Thursday, and alumni quickly jumped online to forward the news through emails, update Facebook messages and reschedule flights so they could stay on campus for Sunday's graduation ceremony.

Throughout the weekend I heard alumni from all classes say over and over how excited they were to see Obama speak, and how proud they were of Wesleyan.

"Yale doesn't have Obama," alumni said with a smirk, referring to the Ivy League school 30 minutes away. (Yale did get Tony Blair - impressive, but nowhere near as cool.)

The national media has written about the symbolism of Kennedy passing the liberal torch along to Obama. The campaigning senator did not need to come to Wesleyan and preach to a choir of young, educated, liberal elites. Most of the crowd were already devoted followers. Therefore, the argument goes, Obama must have done it to express his appreciation to Kennedy for his strong support.

This logic did not occur to many of us 03'ers. Of course Obama would come to Wesleyan. No explanations needed. We're the best school ever!

Wesleyan's commencement usually attracts around 3,000 people; this year's graduates had five times the crowd, despite the fact that the press said the event was closed to the public. On Sunday morning 10,000 family members, alumni and Obama fans took their seats on Andrus Field in front of Olin Library as church bells played the Wesleyan Fight Song. Another 5,000 laid down blankets on the overlooking Foss Hill, where we had gathered every sunny day for four years to drink 40s and bum cigarettes.

Hung-over graduating seniors in cardinal red gowns stumbled into the procession line to the beat of students playing powerful Japanese taiko drums. And as the national press set up camp and secret service snipers positioned themselves on top of Olin Library and the '92 Theatre, we could not have been prouder.

The crowd cheered at every reference to Obama. And when he finally spoke, the graduates and alumni and family members seemed to cling to every word. It wasn't the eloquence; it was the content. Taking a cue from Kennedy's planned address, Obama spoke about the need to serve one's country.

"You can take your diploma, walk off this stage and chase only after the big house and the nice suits and all the other things that our money culture says you should buy," Obama said. "But I hope you don't. Not because you have an obligation to those who are less fortunate, though you do have that obligation...Because it's only when you hitch your wagon to something larger than yourself that you realize your true potential and discover the role you'll play in writing the next great chapter in America's story."

He spoke of the need to volunteer, to teach, to bring skills and resources to impoverished communities around the world. He addressed the cynicism of older generations and of the need to "believe again."

He warned the graduates that the time will come when others try to dissuade them from their idealistic pursuits. "But I hope you'll remember," he said, "during those times of doubt and frustration, that there is nothing naïve about your impulse to change the world."

The crowd erupted in applause.

Such advice is fitting at a place like Wesleyan, where our student body is known for choosing progressive and creative endeavors. Since graduating, members of my class have taught in inner city schools, studied how social networking can improve micro-finance techniques, started non-profits, studied civil rights law, translated for immigrant hospital patients, worked to develop democracy in Georgia (the country), traveled in places like Pakistan and Cambodia, and used music to teach kids new vocabulary.

They are members of the educated elite and yet most sacrifice lucrative paychecks at big law firms or investment banks in favor of taking a stab at making a difference.

But as Obama made clear, even at a place like Wesleyan, young people's impulse to change the world should not be taken for granted. That idealism needs to be prodded and nurtured. It must be taken seriously. And sometimes, no matter what side of the political aisle one's sitting on, it's important to know that there's at least one adult out there not calling us naive. This one happens to be running for president.

Comments

[JayeSutter]

Hillary made that speech when she graduated from Wesleyan.

[LisaMarieC]

It was such a beautiful day! My husband and I (who have no connection to Wesleyan) drove down from Massachusetts to be "Baracked". We arrived at 6:15 a.m. and camped out with a blanket, books, and snacks on a good spot on the hill. Kudos need to go out to the Wesleyan security and staff who, in spite of the heightened everything of that day, were gracious and helpful. When they finally opened the gates to the family seating, it was an absolute riot to hear the roar and see all the skirts and suits running like the blazes to get the best seats--to the applause of the hoi polloi on the hill. To see and hear Obama in person was a thrill and an inspiration. President Roth's address was inspiring as well. Thanks, Wesleyan University, for sharing your special day.

[Hattie]

Obama is bigger than the Grateful Dead! Go Walden!

[Piatt]

Thanks for your post and inspiration.

[SethBLiNK]

Smaller colleges have their charms and it sounds like some of the charms of a smaller college, a relatively small and intimate commencement, for example, and a day when the focus is on the graduating seniors was lost in what turned into a spectacle.

But life has its trade-offs and it sounds like the event you described made it well worth losing out on what might have been.

That Obama crafted a message, that was appropriate for the school he was speaking to, the man he was replacing and the larger world that would hear it speaks volumes about the man and his wisdom.

[nikto]

I don't have a crystal ball to see the next Administration's level of success, but from everything I can see and hear now, OBAMA IS THE ONLY CHOICE.

My God.
It's a slam-dunk.

McSame is lying GOP SCUM.

Hillary is self-destructing in a spectacle that has cultivated doubt about
her worthiness to be President.

OBAMA IS THE ONE.

The. Only. One.

[punkingale]

I thought it was very nice that Ted Kennedy asked Obama to make this speech in his place until I read in the paper that Kennedy participated in a boat race this week-end. He seems to be doing well in spite of his serious illness. It just seems to me like giving a speech at your stepdaughter's school would be a lot more important than a boat race.

[BillyT]

Ted Kennedy "competed" in a race on Monday. He did not go yachting on Saturday or Sunday (the day of the commencement speech).

[dawlishgal]

PLEASE....I recently lost a friend to a brain tumor similar to Kennedy's. For the last year of her life she was constantly subject to seizures. It wasn't as though she had one every day, but the danger was always there. Kennedy has already had one substantial seizure. It is one thing to participate in a boat race in the relative privacy of a boat and surrounded by people ready to help in the event of a problem, quite, another to give a public speech in front of thousands of people. There is no reason for Kennedy to give up whatever activities he enjoys. Give him a break. it is sad enough to have to cancel a speech for such a tragic reason without having people second-guess his reasons.

[BIllyDelyon]

Ahh, yes, the Clinton supporter spreads warm and peace all around Huff po...

Lovely...

[disgustedbuthopeful]

I watched the Obama keynote address on TV. But as I read your article just now, I was much more moved. You got it!! Often when I hear inspirational/motivational speakers, I come away wondering if everyone really hears and understands the message,i.e. if they "get it." Even if Obama does not become president of these United States, I hope he will continue to inspire and motivate its citizens.

Thank you for this well written article.

[HAYMONBRANDON]

I AM SO PROUD OF SEN OBAMA HE DID SEN TED KENNEDY A GREAT FAVORITE. 2 WONDERFUL MEN THAT IN MY LIFE TIME I CAN SAY MADE A DIFFERENT OH HOW I PRAY SEN OBAMA BECOME OUR NEXT PRESIDENT.I KNOW WITH ALL THE PEOPLE WHO HELP AND WORK WITH HIM HE WILL DO A GREAT AND IT WILL TAKE TIME . THE MESS THAT BUSH IS LEAVING BEHIND IS GREAT AND SOME THING LIKE THE WAR IS SO HARD THE GAS AND FOOD CRISIS AND ALSO PEOPLE LOSING THEIR HOMES WOW WHAT A MESS . I COULD CRY OUR RACE PROBLEMS .THE RACISM THAT IS LIVE AND WELL.PEOPLE WHO THINKS THAT THE SEN IS NOT AN AMERICAN AND HE IS NOT EXPERIENCE ENOUGH .WE HAD THE SO CALLED PEOPLE WHO HAD ALL THE ANSWERS WHAT HAPPEN THEY SCREWED UP.SEN IS ALL THE AMERICAN DREAM AND MORE .GOD BLESS HIM AND FAMILY.

[MariaHopeful]

One candidate has repeatedly inspired and energized a people and pushed them to become the best they can be. One candidate has repeatedly appealed to our fears and to our baser instinct. One candidate is fit to lead this nation in this time. A once in a generation leader, Barack Obama!

[aricogfj]

What a beautiful article and tribute to the legacy of Ted Kennedy and the bright future and inspired leadership that hopefully can be embraced with Barack Obama.

[LeonBNJ]

Thank you for this article. I bet no one there will forget their commencement or it's key speaker!
That Ted Kennedy apparently chose Obama to speak in his place due to his recent health issues says a lot about both men. Sen. Obama, per this article made this a special event for the graduates and the crowd there. For Sen. Obama, with his excellent speaking skills and beliefs similar to those of Ted K. made the most of the opportunity for himself too. Sen. Obama was able to speak about a subjects close to his experience, appropiate to a college commencement and not of the regular non-issues usually heard from the politicans running today.

[MPeter]

Thanks Hanna. Great article. We need more idealism and more hope to heal this country and the world.

[PKSSK]

Well written and very informative. You conveyed a very special day at a special university, which was given a very special gifted leader to eloquently enlighten all in attendance. Thank you.

[NifGlynn]

Creating a life with meaning by helping others. What a beautiful message to give to these graduates and the world.