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Senior Speech Book Discontinued This Year

Long-time tradition axed

Zoey Ueland | Co-Editor-In-Chief

Voices in the Auditorium, a culmination of edited speeches put together by the Upper School Director of Speech and Communication Sandy Berkowitz, has been in print since the 1992-93 school year. However, beginning during the 2021-22 school year, the book has ceased to be published.

“[The books] are a representation of the speeches that were given during assembly in that year.” Berkowitz says.

Director of the Upper School Joe Ruggiero explains that the book was put out of print for a couple main reasons. In recent years. “We’ve been documenting them differently,” Ruggiero says. The administration was also aware that, “[there were] seniors who did not really want their speech to be broadcast…we wanted to respect that.”

Ruggiero adds, “there were speeches that varied from what was submitted and … actually was delivered…we didn’t want to be in the business of editing and censoring, but at the same time, if a version of the speech that was given was not what was supposed to be given it wouldn’t have been true or valid in terms of what was actually in the book.”

Upon a meeting with the Alumni Board wherein Berkowitz brought various iterations of the book to members, “they really liked that,” she reflects. “I think it is a tradition that from my experience, that the students begin to understand by the end of the year and then can see it for the future.” Nico Va- liente ‘23 says, “I’m pretty indifferent towards [the lack of publication] but I know that when I’m older I’m going to want a book of speeches to look back on.”

Despite storied intent, Lilly Anderson ‘23 says, “I think the [speeches] that were really memorable for me will stick with me and I don’t need a book showing them.”

However, for Berkowitz, “The seniors that I had in class who talked about [the change], I would say…and this is my characterization of them, unhappy that it wasn’t being done.”

While now sent out in video format to individual seniors via email, “I think that we would be open to revisiting [an alternative format] if it’s something that students [and] parents felt very strongly about…. it would have to address all the concerns that we’ve had,” Ruggiero says. Beyond use for reflection and honoring memories, the books were utilized throughout Berkowitz’s senior seminar class as inspiration for seniors themselves. Berkowitz says, “They’ve heard 300 plus speeches by the time they get to theirs and so they really are excited. They’re like “oh, I remember this speech, let me go back and look at it.”

Classmates Celebrate Peers Chosen to Speak at Commencement

As the seniors get ready to walk the stage for graduation, there is one part that holds a sentimental meaning: graduation speeches. This year, Zach Weiner ‘23 , Senior Class President Sofia Perri ‘23 , and Student Body President Justin Krelitz ‘23 are the three student speakers who have been selected.

While Krelitz and Weiner both auditioned to speak, Perri is required to as part of Senior Class President. As for the selection process,

Krelitz says that “There were two rounds of selection. First you send in a written copy of your speech, they read it, and then they emailed you if you passed that round. And then you gave your speech to Mike Canfield , the Senior Class Dean, Ilah Raleigh , the Director of Visual and Performing Arts, and Sandy Berkowitz , Upper School Director of Speech and Communication.” Krelitz chose to speak at graduation because he believes he “has a unique perspective on things and that people could benefit from just a different perspective.”

Weiner, however, described his motivations as,

“I kind of got gaslit… Mike Canfield asked me if I wanted to give a commencement speech and I was like ‘oh yeah thats awesome I like talking to people.’

I wrote him a draft and it turns out I was en- tered into this competition with 23-25 people.

I didn’t know that. I won apparently and then I had to compete again with five people. I didn’t know that either… so I came back in the morning and saw five of my buddies.”

Krelitz explains that his speech centers around emotions, stating, “Life is about feeling, distance yourself from other things. We do so many other things, we think we want truth and achievement or whatever it may be and that’s going to substitute and make us happy, but we don’t actually go for happiness or were afraid to feel sad. And I’m just like ‘all of your feelings are good.’” That’s where the richness of life is and that’s what we should embrace.” Perri says, “The main tenant in my speech is gratefulness or just gratitude. It’s a thank you speech essentially… I really just want to thank our class for persevering despite what we’ve been through

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and we’ve just created a really welcoming environment that I am so grateful I’ve gotten to experience… The people in my class are an amazing group.” Weiner describes his speech, saying, “It’s an elaboration of what Justin [Krelitz] said [in his senior speech] in my own words… and how Blake is super awesome to me and it’s special and how we should keep that up in the future. And even though we’re not at Blake, you can still be awesome like you guys are awesome to me.”