Annan calls on grads to foster peace

The Summer Pennsylvanian

For the 6,000 members of Penn's Class of 2005, the advice of both United Nations Secretary-General Kofi Annan and University President Amy Gutmann had a common thread ? the necessity of global engagement.

At the University's 249th Commencement ceremony on Monday morning, graduates from each of Penn's 12 schools filed into Franklin Field in a procession that began at Hamilton Village ? some carrying balloons, parasols and other distinctive items in order to be seen by loved ones in the massive crowd.

As faculty, alumni and honorary-degree recipients followed the graduates, Annan ? the keynote speaker ? was received warmly by onlookers despite controversy surrounding his selection as commencement speaker.

Annan was criticized by many within the Penn community ? including a student protest group called "Kofi off Campus" ? of mismanaging the Iraqi oil-for-food program, which permitted the government of Saddam Hussein to use a certain amount of oil revenue for goods that were considered humanitarian aid for the nation's people. An independent investigation declared that Annan had no knowledge of any problems with the program.

The recipient of an honorary Doctor of Laws degree, Annan focused his speech on his vision for the future of the United Nations and the graduates' responsibility to strive for peace worldwide.

"Do not think you can look away from the injustice, the suffering or the lack of true freedom that is the lot of so many people in our world today. Your future depends on their future," Annan said.

While the 2001 Nobel Peace Prize recipient touted the work that the United Nations has done to spread freedom and alleviate suffering throughout the world, he also noted that the organization is "a work in progress" and that it must "move with the times."

Annan did not make any direct mention of the oil-for-food controversy but he did allude to it, saying, "The United Nations must live up to the highest standards of integrity and accountability ? and I am committed to ensuring that it does."

"I am far from complacent about the United Nations today," Annan continued. He then mentioned his plan for revamping the U.N., titled "In Larger Freedom."

Annan left the graduates with challenging words of encouragement.

"I trust that when it comes to your turn to lead, you will improve on what my generation has done," Annan said.

"The cause of larger freedom should be your cause. As I look at you today, with all your talent, your diversity, your commitment and your optimism, I have no doubt that you will do your part to help make it come about," he added.

Like Annan, Gutmann stressed the importance of global engagement as she presided over her first Commencement ceremony as University president.

"We cannot seal ourselves off from the world's blessings or from the world's contagions," Gutmann said.

Noting that global engagement begins locally, Gutmann said that Penn's various local partnerships demonstrate the students' potential.

"I know you are prepared not just to hold your own, but to lead," Gutmann said.

Besides the ceremony's speakers, other highlights included the awarding of honorary degrees to musician and composer Quincy Jones, Princeton University philosophy professor emeritus Saul Kripke, Comcast founder and Penn alumnus Ralph Roberts, CNN anchor and senior correspondent Judy Woodruff and University of Washington Nursing School Dean Nancy Woods.

After erupting into their last rendition of "The Red and the Blue" before embarking on their post-Penn lives, graduates reflected on the Commencement ceremony.

"It was really very exciting, a lot more fun than I thought it would be," said Engineering graduate Jessica Pannequin.

Engineering graduate Kate Schondelmeier found Annan's speech "inspirational," and many were not surprised that any mention of the oil-for-food scandal was absent from the address.

"It's very hard for him to say anything controversial" because of his high global position, College graduate Moises Bassan said.

Jason Marcus, also a College graduate, said, "I know some people were not happy with the choice of speaker, but I thought it was an unbiased speech."

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