[Slide:
On a blue background, the Brandeis seal is shown above white text that reads:
Brandeis University
Politics Program
Celebrating the Class of 2020.]
A short video titled "Decade at 'Deis" plays.
A picture shows excited students with their hands in the air, sitting on a lawn, all wearing the same light blue t-shirt. The word "Brandeis" is animated onto the screen in white text on a dark blue background.
White text on a dark blue background reads: celebrates a decade in pictures.
A picture shows a gathering of people play chess in a dark room. A projection on the wall shows the Lights of Reason.
A quick compilation shows graduating students at their commencement ceremonies carrying a decorated banner that reads: Brandeis Class of 2009 - 2019, inclusive.
Two groups of students are shown walking on campus in opposite directions.
A group of students is shown taking photos of the Louis D. Brandeis statue.
Two people are shown in a fencing match.
Students are shown in a low angle shot. One holds a measuring tape, and another holds a notebook.
On a large stage, an overhead shot shows eight rows of people wearing black tie attire sit. On the floor in white is a letter N encased in a white circle. In white text reads: 2017 nobel prize.
On the same stage, two men are shown shaking hands while one hands something to the other. The people who were seated stand in respect.
Five people are shown in the Brandeis Maker Lab sitting in a circle. White text reads: makerlab.
An overhead shot shows the same scene from above.
A woman is shown before a celestial image of innumerable stars, with some of the stars overlapping with her image. White text reads: discovery of gravitational waves.
A group of students is shown outside painting a large mural onto a brick wall. A series of international flags can be seen on the right side of the mural. White text reads: The Waltham Group celebrates 50 years.
A close up shot of the same image is shown.
A woman sings on a stage wearing a green dress, holding a microphone stand.
The same woman is shown, now wearing a white shirt, and black bowtie and vest, with five people wearing white outfits and back hats and shoes, holding canes, mid-performance.
President Ron Liebowitz is shown walking down a red carpet during a commencement ceremony in full regalia. White text reads: new leadership.
An image of the Skyline quad is shown. White text reads: skyline opens.
The Boston skyline is shown, with a small portion of Skyline's facade in the foreground.
On a white background, three images of the Pulitzer Prize medal are animated onto the screen one by one in a row. Black text reads: three alumni win pulitzer prizes.
Black students are shown carrying protest signs, some wearing rain ponchos, with determined countenance.White text reads: #fordhall2015.
More students are shown during the protest, all looking off screen. One holds a sign that reads: I AM #BLACKBRANDEIS I AM #FORDHALL.
White text over a microscope image reads: discovery 2016 kavli prize in neuroscience.
A large group of students are shown surrounding the Berlin Chapel and Massel Pond. Snow covers the walls of the pond. Black text reads: parkland walkout.
The glass facade of the Mandel Center for the Humanities is shown. White text reads: mandel center for the humanities opens.
Students in traditional Chinese clothing are shown. A backdrop reads: Chinese Spring Festival, and 2019, in red letters. A student stands in the front of the stage and throws bills out to the audience.
A black and white image shows Lenny Bruce looking over his shoulder with a cigarette hanging from his lips and one eyebrow raised. Black text reads: lenny bruce papers.
Yo-Yo Ma is shown in a graduation gown playing the cello before a large tapestry with the Brandeis seal. White text reads: yo-yo ma h'11
A large group of people sit and stand before Berlin Chapel, watching a speaker before a microphone. White text reads: 9/11 commemoration.
Angela Davis and Anita Hill are shown smiling at each other, hand in hand. White text reads: angela davis and anita hill celebrate.
Four people are shown sitting on a panel. One woman holds a microphone, mid-speech. White text reads: AAAS 50th.
Tony Goldwyn is shown, wearing a blue suit jacket. White text reads: alumni achievement award winner tony goldwyn '82.
Kerry Washington and Anita Hill sit beside each other, each holding a microphone. Hill speaks, and Washington looks at her while smiling. White text reads: kerry washington and anita hill.
Paul Simon performs on stage with a guitar. White text reads: paul simon h'10.
Two men are shown onstage in an empty theater. On the right, one man is mid-leap, pointing a sword at the other, who holds up two crossed swords in defense.
Two students are shown wearing large studio headphones in a recording booth, looking at sound mixing software on the computer before them.
Six students are shown during a ballet performance.
Four female students are shown rowing a boat on a river.
The Rose Art Museum at Brandeis is shown at twilight before a pool of water.
Dean Jameel Adams takes a selfie in a large group.
A student presents a scientific poster to President Liebowitz and a woman.
A group of happy students take a picture outside, all with huge smiles and some with their arms thrown up, or around other students.
The Lights of Reason are shown at twilight.
The Louis D. Brandeis statue is shown.
The Carl J. Shapiro Science Center is shown at twilight.
A group of students are shown sitting in a circle together outside.
A group of people stand in the Peace Circle.
Julian Bond is shown speaking on stage, before a tapestry of the Brandeis seal.
Hundreds of students are shown before the Lights of Reason at night, holding small electric tea candles above their heads.
A group of students stand in a circle during a protest on the Rabb steps. Three students stand in the center.
A single light pole from the Lights of Reason is shown at twilight, before pink-tinted clouds.
Three students are shown throwing snowballs.
In the Rose Art Museum, patrons walk around the gallery. A winding staircase can be seen, which allows the first and basement floors to be shown.
Three students are shown running during a women's track meet.
Cantor Joseph Malovany carries a Torah donated to Brandeis by Ira Lipman during a dedication ceremony. Ron Liebowitz touches the Torah with his prayerbook during the procession of the Torah.
A group of students walk past the Louis D. Brandeis statue.
In a chapel, 11 students wearing white shirts sing on stage.
Berlin Chapel is shown on a sunny day, surrounded by snow.
The Louis D. Brandeis statue is shown.
Fades to white. Blue text reads: Brandeis University. Black text reads: photography by: Mike Lovett. Produced by: Tarah Llewellyn. Fades to black.
[Slide: On a blue background, the Brandeis seal is shown above white text that reads: Brandeis University. Politics Program. Celebrating the Class of 2020. ]
[The following slide shows the Brandeis seal to the right, and to the left reads:
ProgramOpening of Celebration and Presentation of Faculty
Eva Bellin, Chair and Professor of Politics
Student Remarks
Renee Korgood, Department of Politics, Class of 2020.
Presentation of Prizes and Awards
Jeffrey Lenowitz, Meyer and W. Walter Jaffe Assistant Professor of Politics.
Presentation of Graduate Degrees
Jill S. Greenlee, Associate Professor of Politics.
Presentation of Undergraduate Degrees
Kerry Chase, Associate Professor of Politics.
Closing of Celebration
Eva Bellin.]
[Slide:
A blue slide shows a picture of the on-campus Louis D. Brandeis statue. Brandeis’ seal is shown next to white text that reads: Brandeis University. Below reads: Eva Bellin. Chair and Professor of Politics.]
Eva Bellin is shown before a white wall.
Eva Bellin: Welcome Brandeis Class of 2020. My name is Eva Bellin, and I am chair of the Politics Department, and I am so happy to be with you this afternoon to celebrate your achievements in completing your studies at Brandeis University. These are indeed challenging times, but what better time to stop and revel in the moment, and recognize your achievements over the last several years. Here at the Politics Department, we have aimed to teach you about the dynamics of power and collective engagement to achieve common ends. And so you are extraordinarily well positioned to confront and conquer the challenges we face today. This afternoon we plan to honor each and every one of you, but before we do that, I'd like to turn your attention to some of our faculty who would like to share a few thoughts with you as well as their best wishes.
[Amber Spry is shown before a beige wall.]
Amber Spry: Hi Class of 2020. I'm Professor Amber Spry in the Department of African and African American Studies and Politics. I'm so excited for the possibilities ahead for you. I hope you take a look at your passions, the things you care about. Take a look at the people you care about, the communities you're committed to serving. Somewhere at the intersection of all those things, you'll make incredible contributions to the world, and I'm so excited to cheer you on. Congratulations on all your hard work. You did it.
[Lucy Goodhart is shown before wooden doors.]
Lucy Goodhart: Hello politics majors. This is Lucy Goodhart, lecturer in the Politics Department. And to all of you and your proud families, I'd like to congratulate you on completing your degree. We commend you for this amazing achievement during such a difficult year, and we look forward to celebrating with you all at your commencement. Thank you.
[Alejandro Trelles is shown.]
Alejandro Trelles: Dear graduates, congratulations. I'm Professor Trelles from the Politics Department, and the Latin American Studies Program at Brandeis. Your graduation marks the end of an exciting and important phase, but also the beginning of a new one. As a Brandeis graduate, be confident that you're well-prepared, that you have all the necessary tools to succeed in life, and that you will make a huge and positive impact in the world. I wish you all the best.
[Dan Kryder is shown before a white wall.]
Dan Kryder: Hello politics majors. I should say politics graduates, congratulations. This is Dan Kryder. I teach American Politics. And I just want to send my warm congratulations for your having achieved this at such a historic moment. Best of luck and let me know how I can help.
[Kerry Chase is shown before a yellow wall, and next to him sits his school-age daughter, wearing a graduation cap.]
Kerry Chase: Hello Politics Class of 2020. This is Kerry Chase, sending you my warmest congratulations on your graduation day.
[Kerry’s daughter gives a quick thumbs up.]
Kerry: I'm proud to say that out of 70 graduating politics majors this year, I've had, um?
Daughter: 19.
Kerry: 19 of you in my classes these four years. Please stay in touch. Drop me a line, tell me how you're doing and good luck. You have great things ahead of you.
[Kerry's daughter gives a thumbs up and a smile.]
[Jeffrey Lenowitz is shown before a white wall.]
Jeffrey Lenowitz: Hello everyone, I'm Jeffrey Lenowitz. I'm an assistant professor in the Politics Department, so I specialize in Political Theory. I just wanted to say congratulations to the Class of 2020. And to say that it was a real privilege to teach you all, and I and my colleagues will miss you all, too. Best of luck in the future. Thanks.
[Bernie Yack is shown before a pale blue wall and a bookshelf.]
Bernie Yack: Hi, this is Bernie Yack, political theorist and Lerman Neubauer Professor of Democracy. I've always said that the greatest thing about teaching Brandeis students is that they're irrepressible. They simply can't be repressed. Put face masks on them, and then they're still gonna want to talk in class. And that's why I know that you're gonna make it in this world that you're gonna make your mark, despite everything that's happening. So, congratulations on graduating, and celebrate tonight, you've earned it.
[Zack Albert is shown outdoors on an overcast day.]
Zach Albert: Hi everyone, my name is Zach Albert, and I'm assistant professor here in the Politics Department specializing in American Politics. Unfortunately, this is my first year at Brandeis so I haven't been able to meet all of you, but it was a pleasure to get to know many of you in class and at department events. And I want to say that you really truly made this year, my first year, a joy for me. So I'd like to wish you all the best of luck in your future, and I want to congratulate you on this tremendous, well-deserved accomplishment.
[Jytte Klausen is shown in a sunny room with white walls and wooden accents.]
Jytte Klausen: Congratulations graduates. It gives me great pleasure to say this. You've done a great job, so celebrate. Be happy and celebrate with your parents. I'm Jytte Klausen. I am the Lawrence A. Wien Professor of International Cooperation. So, enjoy the day.
[An image of Ralph Thaxton shows him speaking on a panel with papers and a microphone on the table before him.]
Ralph Thaxton: Hi graduates. Just to let you know how proud I am of each and every one of you. Some of you have taken my classes, and somehow managed to survive them, and me. That in and of itself is quite a feat. In case you're wondering, this is Professor Thaxton speaking. I teach you and all of you because each of you is brighter than me, and I always learn many things from you in the course of a class. Thanks to each of you for making me a better scholar, hopefully a better teacher. Another thing, we're in tough times now, and so my best advice is to just find a way to be safe and persevere. You can do that no matter how hard it proves to be. Also, never forget what your parents have done for you. All of those sacrifices they made, sometimes invisible to you, so that you could reach this magical moment. I congratulate each and every one of them as well as you. In the meantime, some words from the Irish. "May the road rise to meet you. May the wind always be at your back. May the sun shine warm upon your face, rain fall soft on your fields until we meet again." I wish you success and happiness in all the days, all the years ahead. Thank you.
[Jill Greenlee is shown before white walls where a painting of poppies hangs.]
Jill Greenlee: Hi, this is Jill Greenlee. I'm a professor of Politics, and Women's, Gender and Sexuality Studies, and I study American politics and questions related to gender. Congratulations to all the graduates, and congratulations to your families. You've worked so hard these past four years, and this is a huge accomplishment. Teaching undergraduates at Brandeis is a true pleasure. You really make this job a privilege and I miss you already. So best of luck to you all.
[Eva is shown.]
Eva: And now we will move on to the next part of our ceremony. We get to hear from our class speaker. This year we have chosen Renee Korgood to serve as our class speaker. And Renee has been a terrific member of the Politics Department community. She has been an excellent student. She has been active in politics both on campus and off campus, and she has been a phenomenal UDR, building community within the department. So we are so glad to have Renee speak with us today. And Renee, take it away.
[A blue slide shows a picture of the on campus Louis D. Brandeis statue. Brandeis’ seal is shown next to white text that reads: Brandeis University. Below reads: Renee Korgood, Department of Politics, Class of 2020. Renee Korgood is shown before a white wall where many political posters hang.]
Renee Korgood: Hi everyone. Thank you all for being here, and a huge congratulations to the Class of 2020. We have lived through four of the strangest, most unpredictable years to be a politics student, and here we are celebrating our commencement while scattered across the country surviving the global pandemic. Well, I've been certain since orientation that my degree would be in politics. I couldn't have imagined in any way that this would be how it ended. For me, politics was a passion before I came to Brandeis, and I knew I was going to major in politics at whatever school I went to. I'd been inspired by Bernie Sanders who ran for president in 2016, and the huge systemic changes that I now wanted to bring about. And after his loss, I wanted to know what I could do to make those ideas a reality. I thought that if I wanted to change things for the better, I had to get better people elected to office. Thus, I concluded a major in politics. I quickly learned that there were unimaginably many paths that this could take me down, and I was eager to explore every one of them.
While taking Professor Greenlee's class on Women in American Politics, I volunteered for Kim Janey, the first black woman to represent district seven in Boston. I would go into Boston for the lunchtime shift on the doors, and come back sometimes late to learn what the structural and informal barriers are to women who choose to run for office. On this campaign, I first saw the ways that local politics, zoning, education, and more could define a person's life. The stark difference between the wealthier, gentrified South End, and the historically black and brown neighborhood of Roxbury laid out a contrast that I had seen on my home of Long Island, but not critically engaged with. I started to think about the ways that I needed to act in order to alleviate oppression and injustice around me. Later that year, after mass shootings in Las Vegas and Parkland, I was spurred to action with my peers to support the work of student gun violence prevention activists in Boston and around the country. It was invigorating to be part of such a huge movement, but after the March for Our Lives, I felt lost. Gun violence prevention work didn't seem to have more steps forward. National work was gonna hit a brick wall for the foreseeable future. Massachusetts has some of the strictest gun laws in the country, and I didn't have any personal connection to the cause, or a way to be working towards community solutions to gun violence. It felt like I was running in place, and I wanted to be doing work that I could really have an impact with. So I turned to a new statewide campaign. Yes on 3 Campaign for Transgender Nondiscrimination. It started with me signing up my friends, running to intro classes, and inviting everyone I knew to Facebook events so I could build a reliable, committed team. Just so we could call voters for a few hours every week. It ended up being one of the most memorable parts of my college career.
Yes on 3 was something that I couldn't have imagined participating in before I came to college. Change seemed like it was made on national level campaigns, and I never engaged with local politics growing up yet through the people I met at Yes on 3, I connected with Progressive Waltham, a local activist group and WATCH CDC, the Waltham affordable housing advocacy group. In these groups, I got to learn about the city of Waltham, the serious affordable housing crisis we are facing, and what other movements were popping up to solve problems in the city. I volunteered with WATCH, and I got to listen to tenants in Waltham talk about what they faced trying to find affordable housing, and I worked with them to not only find solutions, but to find places to tell their story. We ran campaigns to get more affordable housing in Waltham based on the changes that tenants wanted to see. I got to live the popular adage of activists everywhere. All politics is local. I finally found a cause I felt tied to, and a community that I felt like I was a part of. I got to participate in a movement where I watched change get made, and I met tenants who concretely benefited from these new policies. It felt tangible and real in a way that resonated strongly with me. And throughout all of this, somehow, I was still in my classes taking in theory and cases about the work I was doing in real time. I viewed all my activism through frameworks I was building in class. What makes someone a political authority? What is a just system? What makes a democracy work? And I learned about my potential role in building movements and making change. My peers at Brandeis have challenged me to think critically about how my privilege affects my organizing, and has limited my thinking. I've been forced to question what I thought was political, and what I didn't and to ask myself when I should be leading and when I should step back. I want to keep doing community organizing, but that means recognizing that I don't know what the solutions are to problems I haven't faced. I can bring what I've learned at Brandeis to these movements, but I now know that this education also limits me, and what I think can be possible.
I'm looking forward to putting down roots in a community and engaging with the important activism that is already present, and I want to use my strengths to support their work. While I feel dedicated to community organizing, I also thought that graduating in 2020 would mean joining a dedicated force of college grads shipping themselves across the country to work on campaigns at a free level. I was incredibly excited to take that leap, and move somewhere new and get to know a new community until the prospect of leaving the Northeast Corridor became indefinitely postponed. I can't speak for all of us, but my own original plans for the upcoming months have disappeared, though I think my mom is grateful that I'll be spending some of this time at home.
I'm not sure what my career looks like in the next two years. I might be remotely connecting with voters. I might be calling residents of local housing developments to organize. I might even end up with another degree. I truly don't know what's gonna come next, but I do know this. Brandeis has taught me so much about how change gets made and maybe more importantly, I've been pushed to engage with these lessons outside the classroom.
I'm still not sure where my passion or calling lies, but everything I do moving forward will be informed by what I've learned these past four years. Everything is political. From voting to renting an apartment, to running for office, to choosing a career. In each choice, I will be thinking about justice and democracy and what they mean and how I can promote them. And I know that all of us, filled to the brim now with knowledge and passion, will be able to accomplish incredible world-changing things. I've learned so much by being a part of this program with all of you, and I can't wait to see where we all go from here. Congratulations everyone.
[Eva is shown.]
Eva: Thank you for those inspiring words, Renee. And now I'd like to turn your attention to Professor Jeffrey Lenowitz, who will be announcing the awards for Best Students in Politics and Best Senior Thesis for the year 2020.
[Jeffrey is shown.]
Jeffrey: Hello everyone. I hope you're all doing well. I'm Professor Lenowitz, the director of our department's honors program, and today I get the distinct privilege of announcing the names of our honor students and the levels of honors they achieved, as well as distributing the two awards our department gives to seniors each year. So first, a word about our honors program. It's tough in ordinary times. Students have to meet high GPA requirements. They have to convince a faculty member that they have an original idea, and they then spend a year conducting serious original research on a topic of their own design. This involves writing something longer than they ever have before, all while regularly meeting with their advisors who are sometimes quite eager to push them to do better and work harder. And this is tough, grueling work, but, of course, this year things were even harder, right? Just at the height of the writing, our honor students had to flee campus with the rest of us. This means leaving behind research materials, right? Easy access to their advisors, and the general rhythms of their writing process. Now judging by my own writing productivity post COVID, I assumed that none of our students would finish, but they all did, and they produced some incredibly wonderful theses. So I hope as I am making clear, I am incredibly proud and impressed with all of them. Okay, so let's get to it.
Our first thesis was written by Sam Cohen, and it's titled "The Politics of Poetry: The Influence of Friedrich Nietzsche Upon Gabriele D'Annunzio's Leadership A Few Men." And it received high honors. So congratulations, Sam. The second thesis was written by Louisa Duggan. It was titled "The Portrayal of American Politics in Women as Political Leaders in Seventeen Magazine." And it received honors. Congratulations, Louisa. The third thesis was written by Mollie Goldfarb. It was titled "On Our Nation's Conscience: Analyzing the Conscience Clause Debate From Originalists an Historical Perspective." And it received honors. Congratulations, Mollie. Our next thesis was written by Renee Korgood. It's titled "Democratization A Session in the EU: The Future Of Conditionality In the Western Balkans." And it received high honors. And then, finally, Olivia Pavao wrote a thesis titled "See Jane Run: How State Level Factors Influenced Gender Trait Presentation in Female Candidates." And it received high honors. So congratulations, Olivia.
Now in addition to the honors designations, our department also gives out two additional awards. The first is the Politics Faculty Prize for Best Senior Thesis. And this year the award goes to Renee Korgood, whose thesis really impressed us all. So congratulations, Renee. And the second award is the Department Prize for Excellence in Political Science. This is given to a student who has, among other things, the highest GPA in our department, and impressed us all in classes that we had with them. And this year's winner is Chaiel Shai Schaffel. So congratulations so much, Chaiel. And congratulations to all the rest of our seniors. We are really proud of all of you, and we will miss you dearly. Thanks so much.
[Eva is shown.]
Eva: Thank you, Jeffrey. And now it is my pleasure to introduce to you, Professor Jill Greenlee, who will announce the names of the recipients of graduate degrees in politics this year.
[Jill is shown.]
Jill: In addition to working with excellent undergraduates, the Politics Department also has a graduate program. This year it's my great honor to recognize two students who have completed their degrees.
[A blue slide reads: Brandeis University Class of 2020 Graduate School of Arts and Sciences.
Daniel Blair. Master of Arts, Politics. “‘To Keep Afloat on an Even Keel’: Triangulation, Bureaucratization, and the Decline of the American Left.” To the right, Blair smiles in the Mandel Center for Humanities. ]
[Jill is shown.]
Jill: Daniel Blair has completed his Masters in Politics with a thesis entitled "To Keep Afloat on an Even Keel': Triangulation, Bureaucratization, and the Decline of the American Left."
[A blue slide with the same heading as the previous reads: Paul Spaletta. Doctor of Philosophy, Politics. “The Human Crisis: Heoric Nihilism and the Legacy of Totalitarianism.” To the right, a headshot of Spaletta is show.]
[Jill is shown.]
Jill: And Paul Spalletta has completed his Doctor of Philosophy. Paul's dissertation in Political Theory is titled "The Human Crisis: Heroic Nihilism "and the Legacy of Totalitarianism." Congratulations, Daniel and Paul, for your tremendous achievement.
[Eva is shown.]
Eva: Thank you, Jill. And now it's my pleasure to introduce to you Professor Kerry Chase, who will read the names of the graduating seniors of the Class of 2020.
[A blue slide’s heading reads: Brandeis University, Class of 2020. Department of Politics. Below reads: Bachelor of Arts in Politics and International Global Studies. Minor: Economics. Ruya Yasemin Akar. The Brandeis seal is shown.]
Kerry: Ruya Yasemin Akar, Bachelor of Arts. Majors in Politics, International and Global Studies. Minors: Economics.
[A blue slide reads: Bachelor of Arts Magna Cum Laude in Politics. Minor: Legal Studies. Thomas O’Brien Alger. A picture shows Alger outside in a suit, smiling. To the right reads: “The purpose of life is to contribute in some way to make things better.” — Robert F. Kennedy.]
Kerry: Thomas O'Brien Alger, Bachelor of Arts Magna Cum Laude in Politics. Minors: Legal Studies.
[A blue slide reads: Bachelor of Arts in Politics and Economics. Minor: Legal Studies. Samantha Barrett. A picture shows Barett outdoors, smiling, with her face propped on her fist. To the right reads: Always aim high, work hard, and care deeply about what you believe in. And, when you stumble, keep faith. And, when you’re knocked down, get right back up and never listen to anyone who says you shouldn’t go on.” — Hillary Rodham Clinton.]
Kerry: Samantha Barrett, Bachelor of Arts. Majors in Politics, Economics. Minors: Legal Studies.
[A blue slide reads: Bachelor of Arts Magna Cum Laude in Politics and Health: Science, Society and Policy. Leah Blitstein. To the right, the Brandeis seal is shown.]
Kerry: Leah Blitstein, Bachelor of Arts Magna Cum Laude. Majors in Politics, Health: Science, Society and Policy.
[A blue slide reads: Bachelor of Arts in Politics. Minors: French and Francophone Studies, Legal Studies. Charles Joseph Cantino. The Brandeis seal is shown.]
Kerry: Charles Joseph Catino, Bachelor of Arts in Politics. Minors: French and Francophone Studies, Legal Studies.
[A blue slide reads: Bachelor of Arts Magna Cum Laude in Politics and Health: Science, Society and Policy. Eli D. and Mollie Goodstein Prize in Hebrew. Phi Beta Kappa. Erin Orel Chambers. A picture shows a headshot of Chambers.]
Kerry: Erin Orel Chambers, Bachelor of Arts Magna Cum Laude. Majors in Politics, Health: Science, Society and Policy. Prizes: Eli D. and Mollie Goodstein Prize in Hebrew. Phi Beta Kappa.
[A blue slide reads: Bachelor of Arts Summa Cum Laude in Politics and with high honors in English. Samuel E. Chestna. A picture shows a headshot of Chestna.]
Kerry: Samuel E. Chestna, Bachelor of Arts Summa Cum Laude. Majors in Politics, English with high honors.
[A blue slide reads: Bachelor of Arts Cum Laude in Politics and International and Global Studies. Minor: Social Justice and Social Policy. Joshua Alexander Cohen. A picture shows a smiling Cohen. To the right reads: “Change will not come if we wait for some other person or some other time. We are the ones we’ve been waiting for. We are the change.” — Barack Obama.]
Kerry: Joshua Alexander Cohen, Bachelor of Arts Cum Laude. Majors in Politics, International and Global Studies. Minors: Social Justice and Social Policy.
[A blue slide reads: Bachelor of Arts Magna Cum Laude in International and Global Studies with high honors in Politics. Minor: Economics. Samuel Evan Cohen. A headshot of Cohen is shown.]
Kerry: Samuel Evan Cohen, Bachelor of Arts Magna Cum Laude. Majors in Politics with high honors, International and Global Studies. Minors: Economics.
[A blue slide reads: Bachelor of Arts Magna Cum Laude in Politics, International and Global Studies, and African and African American Studies. Elizabeth Adjeiwaa Dabanka. A picture shows a smiling Dabanka outside. To the right reads: “It is not our differences that divide us. It is our inability to recognize, accept, and celebrate those differences.” — Audre Lorde.]
Kerry: Elizabeth Adjeiwaa Dabanka, Bachelor of Arts Magna Cum Laude. Majors in Politics, International and Global Studies, African and African American Studies.
[A blue slide reads: Bachelor of Arts Cum Laude in Politics and Women’s, Gender, and Sexuality Studies. Minors: Sexuality and Queer Studies, Social Justice and Social Policy. Joseph M. Linsey Endowed Athletic Fellowship Award. Sierra C. Dana. A picture shows a smiling Dana outside. To the right reads: “Please try to remember that what they believe, as well as what they do and cause you to endure does not testify to your inferiority but to their inhumanity.” — James Baldwin.]
Kerry: Sierra C. Dana, Bachelor of Arts Cum Laude. Majors in Politics, Women's, Gender, and Sexuality Studies. Minors: Sexuality And Queer Studies, Social Justice and Social Policy. Prizes: Joseph M. Linsey Endowed Athletic Fellowship Award.
[A blue slide reads: Bachelor of Arts in Politics, International and Global Studies, and African and African American Studies. Saint Cyr Dimanche. The Brandeis seal is shown.]
Kerry: Saint Cyr Dimanche, Bachelor of Arts. Majors in Politics, International and Global Studies, African and African American Studies.
[A blue slide reads: Bachelor of Arts Cum Laude in Politics, International and Global Studies. Rolanda Jenise Donelson. A picture shows a smiling Donelson wearing a graduation cap and blue hood. To the right reads: Change will not come if we wait for some other person or some other time. We are the ones we’ve been waiting for. We are the change that we seek.” — Barack Obama.]
Kerry: Rolonda Jenise Donelson, Bachelor of Arts Cum Laude. Majors in Politics, International and Global Studies. Minors: East Asian Studies, Social Justice and Social Policy.
[A blue slide reads: Bachelor of Arts Magna Cum Laude in Politics and Education Studies. Minors: Legal Studies, Social Justice and Social Policy, Near Eastern and Judaic Studies. Rachel Esther Dovek. A headshot of Dovek is shown.]
Kerry: Rachel Esther Dovek, Bachelor of Arts Magna Cum Laude. Majors in Politics, Education Studies. Minors: Legal Studies, Social Justice and Social Policy, Near Eastern and Judaic Studies.
[A blue slide reads: Bachelor of Arts Cum Laude with honors in Politics. Minor: Islamic and Middle Eastern Studies. Louisa Merritt Duggan. A picture shows Merritt Duggan outside, smiling.]
Kerry: Louisa Merritt Duggan, Bachelor of Arts Cum Laude with honors in Politics. Minors: Islamic and Middle Eastern Studies.
[A blue slide reads: Bachelor of Arts Cum Laude in Politics and History. Minors: Economics, Islamic and Middle Eastern Studies. Trevor J. Filseth. A picture shows Filseth outside, smiling. To the right reads: “A fool and his money are soon elected.” — Will Rogers.]
Kerry: Trevor J. Filseth, Bachelor of Arts Cum Laude. Majors in Politics, History. Minors: Economics, Islamic and Middle Eastern Studies.
[A blue slide reads: Bachelor of Arts Magna Cum Laude in Politics. Minors: Legal Studies and Music. Aaron Stephen Finkel. A headshot of Finkel is shown. To the right reads: “It always seems impossible until it’s done.” — Nelson Mandela.]
Kerry: Aaron Stephen Finkel, Bachelor of Arts Magna Cum Laude in Politics. Minors: Legal Studies, Music.
[A blue slide reads: Bachelor of Arts Summa Cum Laude with honors in Politics. Minor: Legal Studies. Mollie Elyse Goldfarb. A headshot of Goldfarb is shown.]
Kerry: Mollie Elyse Goldfarb, Bachelor of Arts Summa Cum Laude with honors in Politics. Minors: Legal Studies.
[A blue slide reads: Bachelor of Arts Cum Laude in Politics and Near Eastern and Judaic Studies. Minor: Psychology. Exra Z. Shapiro Family Prize in Near Eastern and Judaic Studies. Talia Sydney Goodman. A headshot of Goodman is shown.]
Kerry: Talia Sydney Goodman, Bachelor of Arts Cum Laude. Majors in Politics, Near Eastern and Judaic Studies. Minors: Psychology. Prizes: Ezra Z. Shapiro Family Prize in Near Eastern And Judaic Studies.
[A blue slide reads: Bachelor of Arts in Politics. Minor: History of Ideas and Philosophy. Eli Hideo Green. The Brandeis seal is shown.]
Kerry: Eli Hideo Green, Bachelor of Arts in Politics. Minors: History of Ideas, Philosophy.
[A blue slide reads: Bachelor of Arts in Politics and Hispanic Studies. Minor: Legal Studies. Albert Alexander Gutierrez. A headshot of Gutierrez is shown. To the right reads: “Success is not final; failure is not fatal: it is the courage to continue that counts.” — Winston S. Churchill.]
Kerry: Albert Alexander Gutierrez, Bachelor of Arts. Majors in Politics, Hispanic Studies. Minors: Legal Studies.
[A blue slide reads: Bachelor of Arts Magna Cum Laude in Politics, with honors in Religion and the Creative Arts, and with high honors in Music. Reiner Prize in Music Composition. Marek A. Haar. A headshot of Haar is shown. To the right reads: “Knowing what’s right doesn’t mean much unless you do what’s right.” — Theodore Roosevelt.]
Kerry: Marek A. Haar, Bachelor of Arts Magna Cum Laude. Majors in Politics, Music with high honors, Religion and the Creative Arts with honors. Prizes: Reiner Prize in Music Composition.
[A blue slide reads: Bachelor of Arts Magna Cum Laude in Politics and Anthropology. Scott L. Halper. A picture of Halper before the Usen Castle is shown. To the right reads: “A genuine leader is not a searcher for consensus, but a molder of consensus.” — Martin Luther King, Jr.]
Kerry: Scott L. Halper, Bachelor of Arts Magna Cum Laude. Majors in Politics, Anthropology.
[A blue slide reads: Bachelor of Arts Magna Cum Laude in Politics and International and Global Studies. Minors: Economics, East Asian Studies. Maya Olan Iimura. A headshot of Iimura is shown.]
Kerry: Maya Olan Iimura, Bachelor of Arts Magna Cum Laude. Majors in Politics, International and Global Studies. Minors: Economics, East Asian Studies.
[A blue slide reads: Bachelor of Arts in Politics and Sociology. Daiana Maria Inoa. The Brandeis seal in shown.]
Kerry: Daiana Maria Inoa, Bachelor of Arts. Majors in Politics, Sociology.
[A blue slide reads: Bachelor of Arts in Politics and Creative Writing. Richard Kisack Jr. The Brandeis seal in shown.]
Kerry: Richard Kisack Jr., Bachelor of Arts. Majors in Politics, Creative Writing.
[A blue slide reads: Bachelor of Arts Summa Cum Laude in History and with high honors in Politics. Minors: French and Francophone Studies, Legal Studies. Politics Faculty Prize for Best Senior Thesis. Phi Beta Kappa. Renee Korgood. A headshot of Korgood in a cap and gown is shown. To the right reads: “Justice is not identical with the concrete realization of these values in individual lives; justice, that is, is not identical with the good life as such. Rather, social justice concerns the degree to which a society contains and supports the institutional conditions necessary for the realization of these values.” — Iris Marion Young, Justice and the Politics of Difference.]
Kerry: Renee Moira Korgood, Bachelor of Arts Summa Cum Laude. Majors in Politics with high honors, History. Minors: French and Francophone Studies, Legal Studies. Prizes: Politics Faculty Prize for Best Senior Thesis Phi Beta Kappa.
[A blue slide reads: Bachelor of Arts Summa Cum Laude in Politics and with high honors in Environmental Studies. Minor: Social Justice and Social Policy. Katherine Laemmle. A picture is shown of Laemmle before a body of water. To the right reads: “Do we settle for the world as it is, or do we work for the world as it should be?” — Michelle Obama, Becoming (2018).]
Kerry: Katherine Laemmle, Bachelor of Arts Summa Cum Laude. Majors in Politics, Environmental Studies with high honors. Minors: Social Justice and Social Policy.
[A blue slide reads: Bachelor of Arts Cum Laude in Politics and with honors in Film, Television, and Interactive Media. Dane Michael Leoniak. The Brandeis seal in shown.]
Kerry: Dane Michael Leoniak, Bachelor of Arts Cum Laude. Majors in Politics, Film, Television, and Interactive Media with honors.
[A blue slide reads: Bachelor of Arts Cum Laude in Politics and Philosophy. Minors: History, Legal Studies. Blake Eric Linzer. The Brandeis seal in shown
Kerry: Blake Eric Linzer, Bachelor of Arts Cum Laude. Majors in Politics, Philosophy. Minors: History, Legal Studies.
[A blue slide reads: Bachelor of Arts Cum Laude in Politics and Philosophy. Zeyu Liu. A picture shows Liu sitting on a wooden bench with his arm around a large statue of an anthropomorphic cartoon dog with its legs crossed and with a hand on its knee. Behind the bench, a slightly smaller statue of a cat with a black bob haircut stands. The animal's eyes both point to the other.]
Kerry: Zeyu Liu, Bachelor of Arts Cum Laude. Majors in Politics, Philosophy.
[A blue slide reads: Bachelor of Arts Cum Laude in Politics Minor: Legal Studies. Connor Charles Locke. A headshot of Locke is shown.]
Kerry: Connor Charles Locke, Bachelor of Arts Cum Laude in Politics. Minors: Legal Studies.
[A blue slide reads: Bachelor of Arts Cum Laude in Politics. Minor: Legal Studies, English. Carol Nicole MacDonald. A headshot of MacDonald is shown. To the right reads: “Those that despise people will never get the best out of others and themselves. — Alexis de Tocqueville.]
Kerry: Carol Nicole MacDonald, Bachelor of Arts Cum Laude in Politics. Minors: Legal Studies, English.
[A blue slide reads: Bachelor of Arts Cum Laude in Politics and Economics. Minor: History. Samantha Rose McGuire. A headshot of McGuire is shown. To the right reads: “Always aim high, work hard, and care deeply about what you believe in.” — Hillary Rodham Clinton.]
Kerry: Samantha Rose McGuire, Bachelor of Arts Cum Laude. Majors in Politics, Economics. Minors: History.
[A blue slide reads: Bachelor of Arts Magna Cum Laude in Politics. Minor: Philosophy. Kerin Leigh Miller. A picture shows Miller wearing a dark blue and white Brandeis jersey.]
Kerry: Kerin Leigh Miller, Bachelor of Arts Magna Cum Laude in Politics. Minors: Philosophy.
[A blue slide reads: Bachelor of Arts Cum Laude in Politics and with high honors in Studio Art. Deborah Josepha Cohen, ’62 Endowed Fine Arts Award. Olivia Faye Molho. The Brandeis seal is shown.]
Kerry: Olivia Faye Molho, Bachelor of Arts Cum Laude. Majors in Politics, Studio Art with high honors. Prizes: Deborah Josepha Cohen, '62 Endowed Fine Arts Award.
[A blue slide reads: Bachelor of Arts Cum Laude in Politics and with high honors in Psychology. Evan Hamwey Moloney. A picture shows Moloney before a white wall.]
Kerry: Evan Hamwey Maloney, Bachelor of Arts Cum Laude. Majors in Politics, Psychology with high honors.
[A blue slide reads: Bachelor of Arts in Politics and Economics. David Edward Murphy. The Brandeis seal is shown.]
Kerry: David Edward Murphy, Bachelor of Arts. Majors in Politics, Economics.
[A blue slide reads: Bachelor of Arts in Politics. Minor: Legal Studies. Erez Y. Needleman. A picture shows Needleman before a white wall with a huge smile.]
Kerry: Erez Y. Needleman, Bachelor of Arts in Politics. Minors: Legal Studies.
[A blue slide reads: Bachelor of Arts in Politics. Minors: Legal Studies, Business. Shea Michael Nugent. A picture is shown of Nugent wearing a cap and gown. To the right reads: ”If you would only recognize that life is hard, things would be so much easier for you.” — Louis D. Brandeis.]
Kerry: Shea Michael Nugent, Bachelor of Arts in Politics. Minors: Legal Studies, Business.
[A blue slide reads: Bachelor of Arts Magna Cum Laude in Politics. Minors: Social Justice and Social Policy, International and Global Studies, Women’s, Gender, and Sexuality Studies. Rebecca Anne Orbach. A headshot of Orbach is shown.]
Kerry: Rebecca Anne Orbach, Bachelor of Arts Magna Cum Laude in Politics. Minors: Social Justice and Social Policy, International and Global Studies, Women's, Gender, and Sexuality Studies.
[A blue slide reads: Bachelor of Arts Cum Laude in Politics and Philosophy. Nicholas Anthony Parrott. The Brandeis seal is shown.]
Kerry: Nicholas Anthony Parrott, Bachelor of Arts Cum Laude. Majors in Politics, Philosophy.
[A blue slide reads: Bachelor of Arts in Politics. Minor: Economics. Richard Matthew Patton. A picture shows Patton before the Lights of Reason. To the right reads: “I have complete faith in the continued absurdity of whatever’s going on.” — Jon Stewart.]
Kerry: Richard Matthew Patton, Bachelor of Arts in Politics. Minors: Economics.
[A blue slide reads: Bachelor of Arts in Politics. Minors: Economics, Legal Studies, International and Global Studies. John Christopher Paul. A headshot of Paul is shown. To the right reads: “We make a living by what we get, but we make a life by what we give” — Winston Churchill.]
Kerry: John Christopher Paul, Bachelor of Arts in Politics. Minors: Economics, Legal Studies, International and Global Studies.
[A blue slide reads: Bachelor of Arts Summa Cum Laude in English and with high honors in Politics. Minor: Legal Studies. Olivia Jane Pavao. A picture is shown of Pavao outside. To the right reads: “One person plus one typewriting constitutes a movement.” — Pauli Murray.]
Kerry: Olivia Jane Pavao, Bachelor of Arts Summa Cum Laude. Majors in Politics with high honors, English. Minors: Legal Studies.
[A blue slide reads: Bachelor of Arts in Politics and American Studies. Minors: Women’s, Gender, and Sexuality Studies. Liana Martine Porto. A headshot of Porto at the Lights of Reason is shown.]
Kerry: Liana Martine Porto, Bachelor of Arts. Majors in Politics, American Studies. Minors: Women's, Gender, and Sexuality Studies.
[A blue slide reads: Bachelor of Arts Magna Cum Laude in Politics. Minor: Economics. Oliver Stiles Price. A picture shows Price smiling while wearing a Brandeis sweatshirt.]
Kerry: Oliver Stiles Price, Bachelor of Arts Magna Cum Laude in Politics. Minors: Economics.
[A blue slide reads: Bachelor of Arts in Politics. Brian Benjamin Rauch. The Brandeis seal is shown.]
Kerry: Brian Benjamin Rauch, Bachelor of Arts in Politics.
[A blue slide reads: Bachelor of Arts Cum Laude in Politics. Minor: Economics. Samuel Ze’ev Reich. The Brandeis seal is shown.]
Kerry: Samuel Ze'ev Reich, Bachelor of Arts Cum Laude in Politics. Minors: Economics.
[A blue slide reads: Bachelor of Arts in Politics. Madison Lei Resendes. The Brandeis seal is shown.]
Kerry: Madison Lei Resendes, Bachelor of Arts in Politics.
[A blue slide reads: Bachelor of Arts in Politics. Minor: Theater Arts. Molly Elizabeth Rocca. A headshot of Rocca is shown. To the right reads: “One of the reasons why there is no cure for injustice is that even reasonably upright citizens do not want one. This is not due to disagreements about what is unjust but to an unwillingness to give up the peace and quiet that injustice can and does offer.” — Judith N. Shklar, the Faces of Injustice (2014).]
Kerry: Molly Elizabeth Rocca, Bachelor of Arts in Politics. Minors: Theater Arts.
[A blue slide reads: Bachelor of Arts Cum Laude in Politics, Economics, and International and Global Studies. Stephen Nicholas Roselli. The Brandeis seal is shown.]
Kerry: Stephen Nicholas Roselli, Bachelor of Arts Cum Laude. Majors in Politics, Economics, International and Global Studies.
[A blue slide reads: Bachelor of Arts in Politics and International and Global Studies. Joao Pedro Rossi. The Brandeis seal is shown.]
Kerry: Joao Pedro Rossi, Bachelor of Arts. Majors in Politics, International and Global Studies.
[A blue slide reads: Bachelor of Arts Summa Cum Laude in Politics, and with high honors in History. Minor: Legal Studies. Patrick Thomas Campbell Award in History. Melanie Rush. A picture shows a smiling Rush outside.]
Kerry: Melanie Rush, Bachelor of Arts Summa Cum Laude. Majors in Politics, History with high honors. Minors: Legal studies. Prizes: Patrick Thomas Campbell Award in History.
[A blue slide reads: Bachelor of Arts Magna Cum Laude in Politics. Minors: Journalism, Linguistics, Psychology. Departmental Prize for Excellence in Political Science. Chaiel Shai Schaffel. A headshot of Schaffel is shown. To the right reads: “…I will tell my children and their children that I did my duty to the best of my ability, believing that my country expected it of me… We are all footnotes — at best — in the annals of history. But in the most powerful nation on earth, the nation conceived in liberty and justice, that is distinction enough for any citizen.” — Sen Mitt Romney, before the United States Senate floor, February 5th, 2020.]
Kerry: Chaiel Shai Schaffel, Bachelor of Arts Magna Cum Laude in Politics. Minors: Journalism, Linguistics, Psychology. Prizes: Departmental Prize for Excellence in Political Science.
[A blue slide reads: Bachelor of Arts Cum Laude in Politics, and Near Eastern and Judaic Studies. Minor: Business. Lily Schmidt-Swartz. An outdoor headshot of Schmidt-Swartz is shown. To the right reads: “We choose hope over fear. We see the future not as something out of our control but as something we can shape for the better through concerted and collective effort.” — Barack Obama, UN General Assembly, 2014.]
Kerry: Lily Schmidt-Swartz, Bachelor of Arts Cum Laude. Majors in Politics, Near Eastern and Judaic Studies. Minors: Business.
[A blue slide reads: Bachelor of Arts Magna Cum Laude in Politics, and with honors in American Studies. Minor: Legal Studies. Julianna Eleanore Scionti. The Brandeis seal is shown.]
Kerry: Julianna Eleanore Scionti, Bachelor of Arts Magna Cum Laude. Majors in Politics, American Studies with honors. Minors: Legal Studies.
[A blue slide reads: Bachelor of Arts Summa Cum Laude in Politics and with highest honors in French and Francophone Studies. Minor: Journalism. Anna S. Aronson Memorial Award. Yvette Jane Sei. A headshot of Sei is shown.]
Kerry: Yvette Jane Sei, Bachelor of Arts Summa Cum Laude. Majors in Politics, French and Francophone Studies with highest honors. Minors: Journalism. Prizes: Anna S. Aronson Memorial Award.
[A blue slide reads: Bachelor of Arts Magna Cum Laude in Politics, Philosophy and History. Minors: Social Justice and Social Policy, Legal Studies. Ravi Samuel Simon. The Brandeis seal is shown.]
Kerry: Ravi Samuel Simon, Bachelor of Arts Magna Cum Laude. Majors in Politics, Philosophy, History. Minors: Social Justice and Social Policy, Legal Studies.
[A blue slide reads: Bachelor of Arts Magna Cum Laude in Politics, Philosophy, and with high honors in Economics. Maxwell Grant Snider. A headshot of Snider is shown. To the right reads: “You have enemies? Good. That means you stood up for something, sometime in your life.” — Winston Churchill.]
Kerry: Maxwell Grant Snider, Bachelor of Arts Magna Cum Laude. Majors in Politics, Economics with high honors, Philosophy.
[A blue slide reads: Bachelor of Arts Cum Laude in Politics and Business. Minor: Environmental Studies. Ethan D. Sternberg. A headshot of Sternberg is shown.]
Kerry: Ethan D. Sternberg, Bachelor of Arts Cum Laude. Majors in Politics, Business. Minors: Environmental Studies.
[A blue slide reads: Bachelor of Arts in Politics and History. Minor: Legal Studies. Gabriel Cardillicchio Sultan. A picture is shown of Sultan outside before a fence. To the right reads: “That this nation under God, shall have a new birth of freedom; that government of the people, by the people, for the people shall not perish from the earth.” — Abraham Lincoln.]
Kerry: Gabriel Cardillicchio Sultan, Bachelor of Arts. Majors in Politics, History. Minors: Legal Studies.
[A blue slide reads: Bachelor of Arts in Politics. Minor: Legal Studies. Joshua Daniel Ulansey. The Brandeis seal is shown.]
Kerry: Joshua Daniel Ulansey, Bachelor of Arts in Politics. Minors: Legal Studies.
[A blue slide reads: Bachelor of Arts in Politics and American Studies. Aryela Rose Vanetsky. A picture shows Vanetsky in full cap and gown at the Lights of Reason. To the right reads: “The greatest glory in living lies not in never falling, but in rising every time we fall.” — Nelson Mandela.]
Kerry: Aryela Rose Vanetsky, Bachelor of Arts. Majors in Politics, American Studies. Minors: Legal Studies.
[A blue slide reads: Bachelor of Arts Cum Laude in Politics. Minors: Legal Studies, Near Eastern and Judaic Studies, Social Justice and Social policy. Shoshanah Alisa Weinreich. A picture shows Weinreich at the Lights of Reason. To the right reads: “Women’s rights are human rights. And human rights are women’s rights.” — Hillary Rodham Clinton.]
Kerry: Shoshanah Alisa Weinreich, Bachelor of Arts Cum Laude in Politics. Minors: Legal Studies, Near Eastern and Judaic Studies, Social Justice and Social Policy.
[A blue slide reads: Bachelor of Arts Magna Cum Laude in Politics and with high honors in American Studies. Minors: Journalism, Religious Studies. Pauli Murray Award. Natalia M. Wiater. A headshot of Wiater is shown.]
Kerry: Natalia M. Wiater, Bachelor of Arts Magna Cum Laude. Majors in Politics, American Studies with high honors. Minors: Journalism, Religious Studies. Prizes: Pauli Murray Award.
[A blue slide reads: Bachelor of Arts in Politics. Zachary Jacob Wilkes. A headshot of Wilkes is shown. To the right reads: “Justice delayed is justice denied.” — William Gladstone.]
Kerry: Zachary Jacob Wilkes, Bachelor of Arts in Politics.
[A blue slide reads: Bachelor of Arts in Politics and International and Global Studies. Minor: Hispanic Studies. Natalya Lenora Wozab. A headshot of Wozab is shown.]
Kerry: Natalya Lenora Wozab, Bachelor of Arts. Majors in Politics, International and Global Studies. Minors: Hispanic Studies.
[A blue slide reads: Bachelor of Arts Cum Laude in Politics and Economics. Minor: Legal Studies. Jennie Y. Yun. The Brandeis seal is shown.]
Kerry: Jennie Y. Yun, Bachelor of Arts Cum Laude. Majors in Politics, Economics. Minors: Legal Studies.
[A blue slide reads: Bachelor of Arts in Politics and Philosophy. Mehmet Heja Zorluoglu. A headshot of Zorluoglu is shown. To the right reads: The effect of liberty to individuals is that they may do what they please: we ought to see what it will please them to do, before we risk congratulations which may soon be turned into complaints.” — Edmond Burke.]
Kerry: Mehmet Heja Zorluoglu, Bachelor of Arts, Majors in Politics, Philosophy.
[A blue slide reads: Bachelor of Arts in Politics. Minor: Economics. Samuel Reed Zuckerman. A headshot of Zuckerman in full cap and gown is shown. Zuckerman smiles while holding a pennant reading: Brandeis. To the right reads: “The best way to predict the future is to create it.” — Abraham Lincoln.]
Kerry: Samuel Reed Zuckerman, Bachelor of Arts in Politics. Minors: Economics.
[Eva is shown.]
Eva: Thank you, Kerry. And with this, we will conclude our mini celebration of the graduation of the Class of 2020 Politics majors. It has been an honor and a privilege to teach you. We're so proud of you, and we wish you every success in the years to come.
[Fades to black.
Opens to a sweeping view on the Louis Brandeis statue with a springtime campus in foreground. The Brandeis Chamber Singers can be heard singing, “To thee, Alma Mater.”
Singing continues, but the video transitions to Chamber Singers on Zoom. There are twenty-two frames of students in headphones singing from home, set in three rows. Shot focuses on center student before zooming out to include all of them.
Singing:
“We'll always be true.
All hail to thy standard
the white and the blue.”
Transitions to montage of Brandeis campus shots, including shot of stone Brandeis University sign with red flowers in foreground, a drone shot of Louis Brandeis statue and trees, a sweeping view of the Shapiro Campus Center from across the Great Lawn, aerial views of the Shapiro Science Complex with the sports fields and Waltham appearing behind, and a low shot over the grass walking across Chapels Field.
Transitions back to Chamber Singers grid.
Music continues.
Singing:
“Proclaiming thy future,
recalling thy past
our hopes spring from
mem'ries eternally cast.
With sorrows we'll leave thee,
new worlds to create.
May deeds of thy children
make thee forever great.
May deeds of thy children
make thee forever great.”
Fades to black.