Father James Martin
http://www.jsonline.com/news/religion/jesuit-author-featured-on-the-colbert-report-to-speak-to-mu-grads-b99223006z1-249830451.html
Pope's busy?
Quote from: Sir Lawrence on March 12, 2014, 02:51:39 PM
Father James Martin
http://www.jsonline.com/news/religion/jesuit-author-featured-on-the-colbert-report-to-speak-to-mu-grads-b99223006z1-249830451.html
The last three have been great.
My year got stuck with David McCollough....his advice to us? Read more books
Quote from: TAMU Eagle on March 12, 2014, 03:03:37 PM
The last three have been great.
My year got stuck with David McCollough....his advice to us? Read more books
David McCullough is one of the finest historians and writers of the past 100 years. Awarded the Presidential Medal of Freedom McCullough is the best chronicler of the story of the American people. His two Pulitzers validate the depth and quality of his work. Frankly, Marquette did well in selecting McCullough to give the Commencement Address. I am fairly certain he offered far greater insight than simply, "Read more books..." Perhaps you were not listening?
Quote from: keefe on March 12, 2014, 03:10:34 PM
David McCullough is one of the finest historians and writers of the past 100 years. Awarded the Presidential Medal of Freedom McCullough is the best chronicler of the story of the American people. His two Pulitzers validate the depth and quality of his work. Frankly, Marquette did well in selecting McCullough to give the Commencement Address. I am fairly certain he offered far greater insight than simply, "Read more books..." Perhaps you were not listening?
Beat me to it.
Quote from: TAMU Eagle on March 12, 2014, 03:03:37 PM
The last three have been great.
My year got stuck with David McCollough....his advice to us? Read more books
I'm sure it was still better than Andrew Natsios
Loved reading John Adams & 1776. My wife read his book on Americans in Paris and liked it. Because of his Paris book I convinced her to watch the HBO John Adams mini-series based on the novel which eventually lead to an enjoyable family visit to Adams National Park in Quincy, MA. All because of the John Adams book.
Quote from: keefe on March 12, 2014, 03:10:34 PM
David McCullough is one of the finest historians and writers of the past 100 years. Awarded the Presidential Medal of Freedom McCullough is the best chronicler of the story of the American people. His two Pulitzers validate the depth and quality of his work. Frankly, Marquette did well in selecting McCullough to give the Commencement Address. I am fairly certain he offered far greater insight than simply, "Read more books..." Perhaps you were not listening?
I'm well aware of his credentials. As a political science major/history minor, his books were commonly on my reading lists for class. I was excited when he was announced as the commencement speaker. The man is a fantastic writer. Not a speaker. And I'm not kidding when I say the theme of the keynote was "Read more books." He spent most of the speech lamenting the death of the written word and cursing the rise of the internet as a medium (must read MUScoop).
In terms of comparison, McCullough's accomplishments are equal to that of Hank Aaron, Bill Cosby, and Father James Martin. His speaking ability? Much lower than the aforementioned individuals.
I love this pick. "My Life With the Saints" is a great read and James Martin is incredibly inspirational. Should be a great speech.
Glad im not graduating this year.
C. Everett Koop was speaker my graduation year. I'd say he received a warm reception. That same year Marquette awarded Helen Hays an honorary doctorate. She received a standing ovation.
David McCullough is a great author, but he is a popular historian and biographer, not an academic historian. That's my nitpick of the day. That said, I still would have liked to hear him speak.
I am pumped about this pick. Fr. Martin has some awesome books. If you have not read "The Jesuit Guide to Almost Everything," I highly recommend it.
I am thinking about going to commencement just to hear him.
If you don't know much about Fr. Martin, he has a great sense of humor, and often appears on the Colbert Report.
I've seen Fr. Jim Martin speak, and he was hilarious. Even better than he is in print or on Colbert. Great choice.
Quote from: MU Fan in Connecticut on March 12, 2014, 03:24:25 PM
Loved reading John Adams & 1776. My wife read his book on Americans in Paris and liked it. Because of his Paris book I convinced her to watch the HBO John Adams mini-series based on the novel which eventually lead to an enjoyable family visit to Adams National Park in Quincy, MA. All because of the John Adams book.
The Adams book dovetails nicely with his works on the founding of this Republic. John Adams, like the nation he helped give birth to, was imperfect and profoundly human. The man, like the political culture he helped shape, celebrated the nobility of every man. Adams personified all that was right and some of what was wrong about the new Republic.
I love Martin's books.
Quote from: Bleuteaux on March 12, 2014, 03:35:16 PM
David McCullough is a great author, but he is a popular historian and biographer, not an academic historian. That's my nitpick of the day. That said, I still would have liked to hear him speak.
I am pumped about this pick. Fr. Martin has some awesome books. If you have not read "The Jesuit Guide to Almost Everything," I highly recommend it.
I am thinking about going to commencement just to hear him.
If you don't know much about Fr. Martin, he has a great sense of humor, and often appears on the Colbert Report.
Bluteaux
Give me a recommendation from Martin's works!
97' had MKE Archbishop (Weakland).....twas' lame!!! :( Cosby last year was probably pretty good
Can't even remember my graduation speaker.
Definitely beats mine....Wendy Kopp, founder of Teach for America. Snooze city.
I had Steve Rushin, who actually gave a really nice speech.
Quote from: ATLmarquettefan on March 12, 2014, 04:05:04 PM
Definitely beats mine....Wendy Kopp, founder of Teach for America. Snooze city.
She was so bad I never knew her actual name.
Quote from: keefe on March 12, 2014, 03:54:42 PM
Bluteaux
Give me a recommendation from Martin's works!
I just did! But if you have already read "The Jesuit Guide..." I'd also recommend "My Life with the Saints" and "Between Heaven and Mirth"
By the way Keefe, one of his major influences is Merton, who he talks about quite a bit in his books, especially "My Life with the Saints."
Martin's stuff is very approachable. It is not intellectual by any stretch, but good intros to spirituality....
Quote from: Bleuteaux on March 12, 2014, 04:18:36 PM
I just did! But if you have already read "The Jesuit Guide..." I'd also recommend "My Life with the Saints" and "Between Heaven and Mirth"
By the way Keefe, one of his major influences is Merton, who he talks about quite a bit in his books, especially "My Life with the Saints."
Martin's stuff is very approachable. It is not intellectual by any stretch, but good intros to spirituality....
Excellent. I will read him this month. Cheers.
Quote from: MU82 on March 12, 2014, 04:01:52 PM
Can't even remember my graduation speaker.
Mine was some philosopher who bored us to tears in 1978. My father, MU 1955, described him as "giving some sort of classroom lecture. I was looking for a notebook."
Mine was Hannah Gray, President of University of Chicago. I don't remember a word of her speech, but I will assume the subtext was, "What a pity none of you were smart enough to get into U. of C.".
Quote from: warriorchick on March 12, 2014, 06:51:08 PM
none of you were smart enough to get into U. of C.".
Are those the kids who were not smart enough to get into Harvard or Stanford?
Heavy Gear. You forgot Koop's message:
"Don't smoke ... and wear a condom!"
CEO of Sears. MU grad.
A 0.5 out of 10 on the cool meter. If 4 years didn't teach you enough life lessons, a 10-15 minute speech wasn't going to make up for it. ;)
This reminds me: the MUScoop Wiki needs an update!
8-)
http://wiki.muscoop.com/doku.php/commencement/start
EDIT: 1997 was Weakland?! I don't think so...
Barbara Bush
All I remember of my guy was that his name had something to do with an apple --- Edward Appleby or Major Applewhite or Johnny Appleseed or something like that -- and he was a NY Times writer. I felt like the people who sit next to Ted Stryker on the airplane.
Quote from: MUunderpants on March 12, 2014, 08:03:01 PM
All I remember of my guy was that his name had something to do with an apple --- Edward Appleby or Major Applewhite or Johnny Appleseed or something like that -- and he was a NY Times writer. I felt like the people who sit next to Ted Stryker on the airplane.
2000? That mofo was awful.
1988. Chief Justice and Milwaukee native William Renquist.....big hat...no cattle.
My son graduated the year McCullough was the commencement speaker. He may be without peer as a writer but he was a lousy commencement speaker. I expected better. The all time worse MU commencement speaker had to be Edmund Muskie who spoke in1982. His entire speech was about the dangers of nuclear proliferation. No advice for the graduates, not even a hint that he was giving a commencement speech. About two-thirds into his droning the students started to boo, but he soldiered on despite the ever louder boos. Sure glad the loser never became president.
Quote from: Hold the Mayo on March 12, 2014, 03:29:41 PM
I love this pick. "My Life With the Saints" is a great read and James Martin is incredibly inspirational. Should be a great speech.
+1,000. Just gave this to my godson for his confirmation. One of the Saints Fr. Martin "walks with" is St. Ignatius, which is my godson's confirmation name. Wonderful choice for graduation.
Quote from: murobrob on March 12, 2014, 09:15:31 PM
1988. Chief Justice and Milwaukee native William Renquist.....big hat...no cattle.
That was my sister's year. Put me to sleep - basically gave the "the only thing you can't accumulate more of is time" speech.
'86 was a philosophy prof (and priest?) from Loyola named O'Donnell, I think. Not good.
In '06 we had Elaine Chao, US Secretary of Labor at the time, who spent her entire speech simply listing the accomplishments of W's administration. Absolutely brutal.
Chao was so bad. that was terrible.
Quote from: LA on March 12, 2014, 11:22:52 PM
In '06 we had Elaine Chao, US Secretary of Labor at the time, who spent her entire speech simply listing the accomplishments of W's administration. Absolutely brutal.
Must have been a pretty short speech ;D
Quote from: LAZER on March 13, 2014, 12:23:06 AM
Must have been a pretty short speech ;D
Is "W" short for Jimmy Carter?
Rehnquist here, *Yawn*
Quote from: LA on March 12, 2014, 11:22:52 PM
In '06 we had Elaine Chao, US Secretary of Labor at the time, who spent her entire speech simply listing the accomplishments of W's administration. Absolutely brutal.
There was accomplishments in W's administration?
Quote from: LloydMooresLegs on March 12, 2014, 11:00:33 PM
That was my sister's year. Put me to sleep - basically gave the "the only thing you can't accumulate more of is time" speech.
And you, my friend, remember more of his speech than I do...snoozefest!
1991 speaker was awful. Couldn't tell you who he was.
Quote from: MUWarrior4Life on March 13, 2014, 06:47:54 AM
Rehnquist here, *Yawn*
Yup. The student speaker, Matt McCue (sp?) was far better than Justice Rehnquist. It was interesting seeing the secret service guys in all of the access points to the MECCA.
My speaker exceeded my wildest expectations. He offered to give MU $1mil if they changed back to the Warriors. Best speaker ever.
I thought for sure that MU's Greatest Living Alum, Keefe, was going to be announced? ?-(
Quote from: keefe on March 13, 2014, 01:42:25 AM
Is "W" short for Jimmy Carter?
C'mon you can do better than that.
A question for those who have graduated recently or are graduating this year. Do they still have a separate graduation ceremony for all of the different colleges where the actual diplomas are given out? Where there is another student speaker and/or commencement speaker?
Quote from: MU Fan in Connecticut on March 13, 2014, 06:56:57 AM
There was accomplishments in W's administration?
IIRC there was a certain mission that was accomplished, according to a banner that was hung. TC would be proud.
Quote from: tower912 on March 13, 2014, 08:59:33 AM
A question for those who have graduated recently or are graduating this year. Do they still have a separate graduation ceremony for all of the different colleges where the actual diplomas are given out? Where there is another student speaker and/or commencement speaker?
In 2004, the law school had its own separate ceremony at the Midwest express center and had a State Supreme Court justice speak.
Quote from: Bleuteaux on March 13, 2014, 09:03:34 AM
IIRC there was a certain mission that was accomplished, according to a banner that was hung. TC would be proud.
Lay off the political crap. You are going to shut down a good thread.
Quote from: mu-rara on March 13, 2014, 10:00:26 AM
Lay off the political crap. You are going to shut down a good thread.
I thought I brought it full circle with Crean, but point taken.
Quote from: tower912 on March 13, 2014, 08:59:33 AM
A question for those who have graduated recently or are graduating this year. Do they still have a separate graduation ceremony for all of the different colleges where the actual diplomas are given out? Where there is another student speaker and/or commencement speaker?
Yeah in 2010 everyone gathered at the BC for the main student speaker, the commencement speech, and Father Wild's talk. After that we went our separate ways, the Comm school went to MATC, the Business school went to US Cellular, the Engineer's went to the Rave, etc.
Also you're correct that there were more speeches at each individual ceremony
Quote from: swoopem on March 13, 2014, 10:07:07 AM
Yeah in 2010 everyone gathered at the BC for the main student speaker, the commencement speech, and Father Wild's talk. After that we went our separate ways, the Comm school went to MATC, the Business school went to US Cellular, the Engineer's went to the Rave, etc.
Also you're correct that there were more speeches at each individual ceremony
True. At winter graduation, which is what I did, there is just one big ceremony, at the US Cellular Arena.
Quote from: swoopem on March 13, 2014, 10:07:07 AM
Yeah in 2010 everyone gathered at the BC for the main student speaker, the commencement speech, and Father Wild's talk. After that we went our separate ways, the Comm school went to MATC, the Business school went to US Cellular, the Engineer's went to the Rave, etc.
Also you're correct that there were more speeches at each individual ceremony
Yes this is still been done. Last year my son graduated and Cosby was a blast! In '83 we got lunch in our individual cermonies looks like they do not do that now.
In '83 we got Bob Keeshan AKA Captain Kangaroo ;D
Quote from: tower912 on March 13, 2014, 08:59:33 AM
A question for those who have graduated recently or are graduating this year. Do they still have a separate graduation ceremony for all of the different colleges where the actual diplomas are given out? Where there is another student speaker and/or commencement speaker?
As of 2011, they did
Quote from: Hold the Mayo on March 12, 2014, 03:29:41 PM
I love this pick. "My Life With the Saints" is a great read and James Martin is incredibly inspirational. Should be a great speech.
Inspirational speaker following an uninspiring season is a good choice.
Rushin in '07 was great. Favorite quotes from his speech:
"Right now some of you are asking yourself how can I SAVE Western Civ when I slept through Western Civ?"
"On graduation day of 1988, my father gave me a set of soft-sided luggage and what he calls The Golden Handshake, a ceremonial photo-op, in which he shook my hand in front of Gesu and absolved himself of any further financial responsibility in my life. He did it with all my siblings and the message was not a subtle one: Get the hell out of here."
Quote from: Bleuteaux on March 13, 2014, 10:05:47 AM
I thought I brought it full circle with Crean, but point taken.
Although I responded to your post, this was a thread wide response.
Quote from: LAZER on March 13, 2014, 08:40:28 AM
C'mon you can do better than that.
Of course I can. But going hard core political gets the thread shut down and I am curious to hear about the various speakers.
One of the interesting themes emerging here is that it is not the distinction of a speaker in his chosen field of endeavor; rather, it is about bringing the requisite intuition and acumen to identify the audience's hopes, fears, dreams, and concerns in order to resonate with those emotions and offer insight.
Perhaps Secretary Chao had spent so much time on the stump that she confused the convocation with yet another rubber chicken event and felt compelled to defend a beleaguered administration. The Chief Justice of the Supreme Court should bring essential and engaging observation that demands introspection but fails to do so. But a sports writer connects with his audience in ways that scholars and politicos cannot?
Is it a function of the electronic generation wanting nothing more than sound bites packaged in neat, tidy, digestible 7 minute morsels? Or is it that the speakers are so far removed from the weltanschauung of a 22 year old audience saddled with debt and standing tremulous before a decidedly uncertain future they cannot possibly offer any relevant insight? Interesting comments.
IIRC, the theme of Rehnquist's speech was 'Time'. Riveting.
Quote from: newsdrms on March 13, 2014, 10:14:29 AM
Yes this is still been done. Last year my son graduated and Cosby was a blast! In '83 we got lunch in our individual ceremonies looks like they do not do that now.
In '83 we got Bob Keeshan AKA Captain Kangaroo ;D
Keeshan was given an honorary doctorate in 1983, but he wasn't the commencement speaker. It was Loret Ruppe, Director of the Peace Corp.
Quote from: Sir Lawrence on March 13, 2014, 02:05:01 PM
Keeshan was given an honorary doctorate in 1983, but he wasn't the commencement speaker. It was Loret Ruppe, Director of the Peace Corp.
Well goes to show you I remember Keeshan and not Ruppe!!
Quote from: keefe on March 13, 2014, 01:49:05 PM
Of course I can. But going hard core political gets the thread shut down and I am curious to hear about the various speakers.
One of the interesting themes emerging here is that it is not the distinction of a speaker in his chosen field of endeavor; rather, it is about bringing the requisite intuition and acumen to identify the audience's hopes, fears, dreams, and concerns in order to resonate with those emotions and offer insight.
Perhaps Secretary Chao had spent so much time on the stump that she confused the convocation with yet another rubber chicken event and felt compelled to defend a beleaguered administration. The Chief Justice of the Supreme Court should bring essential and engaging observation that demands introspection but fails to do so. But a sports writer connects with his audience in ways that scholars and politicos cannot?
Is it a function of the electronic generation wanting nothing more than sound bites packaged in neat, tidy, digestible 7 minute morsels? Or is it that the speakers are so far removed from the weltanschauung of a 22 year old audience saddled with debt and standing tremulous before a decidedly uncertain future they cannot possibly offer any relevant insight? Interesting comments.
is that a penis joke?
Quote from: LAZER on March 13, 2014, 12:23:06 AM
Must have been a pretty short speech ;D
You missed the worst part - she started by talking about how much she loved Lousiville growing up.
Quote from: TAMU Eagle on March 12, 2014, 03:03:37 PM
The last three have been great.
My year got stuck with David McCollough....his advice to us? Read more books
Mainly the one he was releasing within weeks of his speech. As has been mentioned before, I was excited for his speech, but it wasn't very good.
Quote from: MU Fan in Connecticut on March 13, 2014, 07:03:25 AM
1991 speaker was awful. Couldn't tell you who he was.
According to the Marquette wiki: Sociologist James Coleman (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/James_Samuel_Coleman). He was awful. Perhaps he was a great scholar, but he certainly was boring. The conversations among the students were drowning him out. It actually was a little embarrassing.
And, Deja vu (http://www.muscoop.com/index.php?topic=38205.msg486595#msg486595).