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Simmons reminds graduates of 'debt you owe to the world' Receiving a degree is a privilege, and with that privilege comes a great deal of responsibility, said Ruth J. Simmons, Ph.D., in her keynote address at the University's 141st Commencement May 10. Full story More Stories
				Simmons reminds graduates of 'debt you owe to the world' By Andy Clendennen Receiving a degree is a privilege, and with that privilege comes a great deal of responsibility, said Ruth J. Simmons, Ph.D., in her keynote address at the University's 141st Commencement May 10. Photo by David Kilper Ruth J. Simmons, Ph.D., president of Brown University, speaks at Washington University's 141st Commencement May 13 in Brookings Quadrangle. Simmons, the first African-American president of an Ivy League institution, also received an honorary doctor of humanities degree during the ceremony. Simmons, president of Brown University, told the graduates they have a responsibility to give back to the people and places that have provided support for the past several years. "Of course, you all know that you are leaving college in debt," said Simmons, who received an honorary doctor of humanities degree during the ceremony. "No, I don't mean the obligation to repay the loans that helped finance your education, though, keep in mind, you need to repay those as well. "I mean the debt you owe to the world that has nurtured you, to the family and friends who have supported you, to the generations to come who will falter or thrive, depending on how well you make good on your duty to the general good. "There is nothing worse than a person who rises to high achievement and who thinks they did it on their own. I hope you won't be one of those." Her speech, titled "Design for Living: Digital Truth and Technicolor Dreams," had humorous moments, such as recounting comedian Bill Cosby's advice upon her being named the first African-American president of an Ivy League institution, as well as the first woman president of Brown: Watch out for paper cuts, Cosby said. Simmons' address also was poignant, as she referenced Sept. 11 and how Wall Street bounced back. But her words stressed the importance of making ethical decisions in everyday life. "The newspapers today are replete with prominent people who have failed to make ethical choices," she said. "We see these tales of woe and we think, 'What is wrong with them? How could they have been so sightless?' At the same time, the media are also replete with everyday people who rise to extraordinary heights in the exercise of extraordinary judgment. We ask, 'How could such a person rise to the pinnacle of courage, truth and honesty when they are uneducated, when they are such humble folk?' "The truth is, one gets better at making ethical choices if one practices making such choices on a daily basis. . . If you are to avoid being a victim of your education, you must practice this art of discernment on an ongoing basis."

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