Smiley urges DePauw class to exert leadership role

Sunday, May 22, 2016
Punctuating a point about leadership in America, commencement speaker Tavis Smiley addresses a DePauw University audience Sunday morning at Holton Memorial Quadrangle.

"Ideal" certainly seemed the proper description for the weather Sunday, but "ideal" is far from the adjective DePauw University commencement speaker Tavis Smiley would ever enlist to describe the country's current political climate.

"America needs your leadership," broadcaster and author Smiley told 533 bachelor's degree recipients, parents and friends as DePauw's 177th annual commencement unfolded Sunday morning and early afternoon at Holton Memorial Quadrangle under brilliant sunshine and blue skies.

The 2016 national election, the speaker said, has challenged Americans to look at the big picture.

Cell phone held high in one hand and diploma in the other, a member of the DePauw University Class of 2016 celebrates as she makes her way along the recessional route.

"Our nation is being vexed by some hard questions which require and demand some heart answers," Smiley continued, placing his hand over his chest as he spoke. "This election, which is hard to ignore as much as we'd like to -- at least I can speak for Tavis in that regard -- is challenging us to wrestle with a very serious, and yet simple, question, 'Who are we really?' and 'What kind of country are we ultimately going to be?'"

Smiley, the Indiana native who hosts the late-night "Tavis Smiley" talk show on PBS as well as "The Tavis Smiley Show" on Public Radio International, said he did not intend to espouse any partisan politics Sunday, before quickly noting, "I read the same polls you do and apparently we don't like or trust him (Donald Trump) or her (Hillary Clinton)."

He instead called upon the DePauw Class of 2016 to "not talk about him, to not talk about her, but to talk about us -- to talk about we, the people."

Also enjoying her moment on stage, Angela Hacker, Cloverdale, is congratulated by DePauw President Brian Casey, conducting his eighth and final commencement.

"America," he stressed, "in many ways has grown older, but we haven't grown wiser. We haven't necessarily grown up."

Smiley frowned upon what he called a "huge gap" between the ideals we prefer as a nation and "the ideas being promulgated during this election."

The answer, he suggested to the graduating class, is to provide the kind of leadership DePauw University is accustomed to fostering.

President Brian Casey leads the 2016 commencement procession to the stage at Holton Quadrangle Sunday morning.

"There are so many distinguished graduates of this institution who have offered a kind of leadership sorely needed in this nation that I want to encourage you to emulate," Smiley said. "I could run a long list of great, iconic DePauw graduates, but it just so happens that one of your most distinguished graduates happens to be not just a friend of mine, but I consider him a mentor."

That man would be Vernon Jordan, a 1957 DPU graduate, a close adviser to President Bill Clinton and a noted civil rights activist who is considered an influential figure in American politics.

"If you can live a life that emulates the kind of love and the kind of service that (departing DePauw President Brian) Dr. Casey has provided and Vernon Jordan has provided, then you will have lived a life well-lived.

Faculty on hand to witness the 177th commencement at DePauw University Sunday showed off a number of hat styles on a sunny, ideal day for an outdoor ceremony.

"Nobody sent you here to be a follower," Smiley told the students before him. "We're all expecting you to lead. That's what it means to be a graduate of DePauw, that you step into the world and you provide leadership."

Smiley offered his own definition of that leadership as well.

"You can't lead people unless you love people, and you can't save people unless you serve people," he stressed.

He urged the graduating class to "figure out the mission statement for your own life," all the while warning them to "protect your soul ... your soul is the most precious part of you."

"At all costs, 2016 graduates, don't sell your soul," Smiley stressed. "Don't sell it. Don't surrender it. Don't let them steal your soul."

At the same time, Smiley urged the class members to "commit yourself to excellence."

"Commit yourself every day to doing your work so well that the dead, the living or the unborn couldn't do it any better," he said, pivoting away from the microphone as he delivered those last words with a drop-the-mic-like emphasis.

In addition to Smiley receiving an honorary Doctor of Public Service degree during the ceremony Sunday, an honorary Doctor of Letters was presented to Douglas Hallward-Driemeier, a 1989 DePauw graduate and partner in a Washington, D.C., law firm whose arguments helped persuade the U.S. Supreme Court to rule in favor of same-sex marriage last summer.

The day's first speaker was Craig R. Carter, a Chicago senior who earned a degree in biology Sunday, addressed the Class of 2016 as winner of the Walker Cup, which is awarded to the senior who contributes the most to the DePauw community during his or her four years on campus.

"Some of us will owe $30,000 (upon graduation)," Carter mused, "some will owe $50,000, and some $80,000.

"Does that number define you?," he asked.

"No," Carter responded. "Who you are as a person and your values tell what kind of person you are."

Carter, the senior class president, said he was most proud that the class contributed more than 1,110,000 hours to community service across 79 countries during their four years, "already affecting millions of individuals."

The Class of 2016, he added, was entering "a very exclusive club" upon members' graduation Sunday, Carter advised.

"Only 17 percent of all Americans hold a college degree, and at large, only six percent of the world," he said. "That gives us a responsibility to uplift those who are still searching, to build our homes and to guide our fellow man and woman."

Praising his mother and departing DePauw President Casey as having the biggest influence in his life, Carter said most of us "are who we are because someone loves us."

"I want you to think about who has uplifted you, who helped you to discover yourself," he said before concluding his remarks with, "Never forget their actions, never forget the value of yourself, never forget the value of your work."

Sunday's ceremony was the last commencement for President Casey, who will be moving on to the presidency of Colgate July 1. He did not directly address the issue during the ceremony, although the audience was asked by another speaker to show its appreciation for Casey and his eight years at the DePauw helm.

Likewise, DPU President-elect Mark McCoy only participated in the ceremony as the dean of the School of Music, presenting degrees to seniors in the School of Music.

Graduates toss up their mortarboards at the end of DePauw University commencement exercises Sunday. (Photo by Kyle Hollinger)

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