University of Michigan Graduation

The doors were set to open at 6:30a.m. today at Michigan Stadium in Ann Arbor, but this wasn't in preparation for a major football showdown, it was for the University of Michigan Graduation.  While commencement activities didn't officially get rolling until 11a.m., the university wanted family and guests to plan ahead for chaos since President Barack Obama was the honorary speaker receiving a doctor of law degree at the ceremony. 

While we didn't necessarily sleep in, we did get a little of a late start it seemed as we headed down Main Street (which was partially shut down) with mobs of other people trying to find an entrance that didn't have a ridiculous line.  A few blisters later, Steve and I managed to walk the entire stadium to find what we thought was probably the shortest line through security.  

We did get into the stadium in plenty of time to find our seats, grab a glass of water, and watch President Obama arrive via helicopter; however, we did miss out on the breakfast food they apparently were selling.  All gone. Boo.

With all the graduates getting seated mostly on the field, the ceremony kicked off with general opening remarks by the President Mary Sue Coleman, the student speaker, Alex Marston, and Governor Jennifer S. Granholm.  The student speaker had a few witty lines in his speech especially this one that caused President Obama to chuckle: 

President Obama was elected on his promise of “change we can believe in.” But after he took office he found many resistances to change.

And then came President Obama's speech, which started with the cheesy applause line as he called it by shouting, "Go Blue".  He followed that line up by reviewing some questions he received from children, one of which was, "Somebody wanted to know if I wear a black jacket or if I have a beard -- (laughter) -- so clearly they were getting me mixed up with the other tall guy from Illinois"

A few other great lines from the speech:

So, class of 2010, what we should be asking is not whether we need “big government” or a “small government,” but how we can create a smarter and better government.

Because in an era of iPods and Tivo, where we have more choices than ever before -- even though I can't really work a lot of these things -- but I have 23-year-olds who do it for me -- government shouldn’t try to dictate your lives. But it should give you the tools you need to succeed. Government shouldn’t try to guarantee results, but it should guarantee a shot at opportunity for every American who’s willing to work hard.

But if we choose to actively seek out information that challenges our assumptions and our beliefs, perhaps we can begin to understand where the people who disagree with us are coming from.

It was 50 years ago that a young candidate for president came here to Michigan and delivered a speech that inspired one of the most successful service projects in American history. And as John F. Kennedy described the ideals behind what would become the Peace Corps, he issued a challenge to the students who had assembled in Ann Arbor on that October night: “on your willingness to contribute part of your life to this country,” he said, will depend the answer whether a free society can compete. I think it can,” he said.

What is certain -– what has always been certain -– is the ability to shape that destiny. That is what makes us different. That is what sets us apart. That is what makes us Americans -– our ability at the end of the day to look past all of our differences and all of our disagreements and still forge a common future. That task is now in your hands, as is the answer to the question posed at this university half a century ago about whether a free society can still compete.

Listen to the entire speech here or read the rest of it here.

As soon as the last word in his speech was delivered, the crowd quickly made their way to the exits while there was still the degrees to be awarded.  It was a bit annoying to see everyone leaving while the main part of the ceremony was still going on, but I guess that's how it goes. 



Congratulations Scottie!  Now he has 3 and half months more of toiling through the MBA, but then the real celebration will begin!  If it all works out, we'll be spending our first anniversary, MBA class-free!

More pictures from graduation in my Picasa album.