Bergen describes life after flunking

Candice Bergen did the impossible this weekend. The star of the television hit series Murphy Brown received a doctorate from the University, despite the fact that she flunked out during her sophomore year as an undergraduate 27 years ago. The University selected Bergen -- who would have graduated from the University with the class of 1967 -- to be this year's Ivy Day speaker and to receive an honorary doctor of laws degree. Following the senior awards ceremony, Bergen spoke to a standing-room only crowd in Irvine Auditorium about the importance for all graduates to do whatever makes them happy in life. And through her heavy sarcasm, Bergen made a playful mockery of almost every facet of the University -- from the Wharton School to the English major. Using herself as an example, she said anyone can be happy and successful in the future, no matter how grim or uncertain the prospects may seem. Bergen told the story of when she was called before the dean of women and asked where she would be in 10 years without a bachelor's degree. She said she had no idea. Bergen went on to say that she had reached a "working definition" of happiness, thanks to her "wonderful husband," her "beautiful daughter," a "comfortable roof over my head" and a television series that allows her "creative freedom and artistic fulfillment." "For you Wharton students out there, that's a joint filing, an exemption, a deduction and a gross profit participation," she said with a smirk. Bergen said that as freshmen, University students are initially very different, coming from diverse backgrounds. "We started with nothing in common except a thirst for knowledge -- or that we were rejected or waitlisted at Harvard, Princeton and Yale," she said, receiving a mixture of laughter and hissing from the audience. Bergen stressed that the University has changed dramatically since she was an undergraduate. She cited a change in class composition from 75 percent male when she was a student, to just over 50 percent male today. Attitudes towards co-education and the sexes, according to Bergen, have changed significantly as well. "Women lived in Hill House," she said. "Women couldn't live, let alone streak, in the Quad [when I was an undergraduate]," referring to a female student's participation in last year's Quad Streak. To end her speech, Bergen explained her reasons for speaking from the perspective of her television character, Murphy Brown. She said she was glad to help the class of '92, but delighted to receive an honorary degree. "The degree is mine, I've got it and I'm taking it home!" Members of the audience were pleased with the speech. In the spirit of graduation, one likened the speech to the graduating class itself. "The speech embodied the spirit of the class of 1992," College senior Roger White said. "It was invigorating, exciting, and indiscribable in potential." Following the speech, Vice Provost for University Life Kim Morrisson announced that the site of the 1992 Ivy Day stone, which was designed by class of 1992 member Jessica Sloop, would be on Locust Walk near the Button. Morrisson said the Locust Walk locale was selected because it is a "pivotal location at the center of campus."

Please note All comments are eligible for publication in The Daily Pennsylvanian.