SATURDAY, JUNE 12, 2021
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THE DARTMOUTH COMMENCEMENT ISSUE 2021
(Approximately) Six Words of Advice For Graduates B y Ben Fagell
The Dartmouth Staff
The Dartmouth asked professors to provide the Class of 2021 their best life advice in just six short words. Providing a quote is simple enough, but condensing one’s sentiments into a succinct blurb proved to be a challenge — and some professors broke the rules. Nonetheless, The Dartmouth presents — approximately — six words of advice. SOPHIE BAILEY/THE DARTMOUTH SENIOR STAFF
Spanish and comparative literature professor Rebecca Biron: Question everything, laugh and be kind. Religion professor Randall Balmer: Don’t play it safe. Take chances.
Earth sciences professor Bob Hawley: Luck is where YOU find it. Women’s, gender, and sexuality studies and history professor Leslie Butler: History has its eyes on you. (borrowed)
Film and media studies professor Jeffrey Ruoff: “Everything changes and nothing Film and media and African and African American studies professor Iyabo Kwayana: Let your passion contribute to humanity! stands still.” — Heraclitus Film and media studies professor Mary Flanagan: Do not be afraid of no! Film and media studies professor Jeffrey Ruoff (again): “Perfect is the enemy of good.” — Voltaire
African and African American studies professor Marvin Chochotte: Enjoy life while pursuing your endeavors. Women’s, gender, and sexuality studies professor Eng-Beng Lim: Always profess queer love and care.
Classics professor Margaret Graver: Find what you do well & do that. Theater professor Dan Kotlowitz: Compassion and kindness, the rest will follow. German studies professor Petra McGillen: Read, travel, eat, laugh, rest. Repeat.
African and African Americans studies, religion and women’s, gender, and sexuality studies professor Robert Baum: Speak truth to power. Geography and earth sciences professor Justin Mankin: Be civic-minded — acknowledge your agency.
Computer science professor Thomas Cormen: Live your life with meaning. Mathematics professor Peter Doyle: Watch the doughnut, not the hole.
Classics, cognitive science and linguistics professor Lindsay Whaley: It’s good to innovatively split infinitives.
Government and quantitative social science professor Charles Crabtree: Don’t select on Psychological and brain sciences and cognitive science professor Alireza Soltani: Make the world a wilder place. the dependent variable. Anthropology and women’s, gender, and sexuality studies professor Sienna Craig: Reciprocate. Practice compassion. Cultivate equanimity. Laugh. Studio art professor Brenda Garand: There are no rules in art. Sociology professor John Campbell: Life is short … have fun!
Jewish studies professor Marc Caplan: Judaism is BIG, like everything else. African and African American studies and sociology professor Trica Keaton: You are the light you seek! Environmental studies professor Michael E. Cox: Don’t optimize for just one thing.
Classics professor Håkan Tell: Life is short; live well now. Geography postdoctoral fellow Sujin Eom: Be strangers to yourselves, not others. French professor Scott Sanders: “What is Enlightenment? Using your own understanding.” — Kant Art history and women’, gender, and sexuality studies professor Ada Cohen: Always keep art in your life.
Cognitive science, philosophy and psychological and brain sciences professor Jonathan Phillips: The deed is everything; the glory, nothing. Psychological and brain sciences professor Jeremy Manning: Do good, have fun, seek happiness.
Chemistry professor Jane Lipson: Absorb photons. Radiate generosity. Conserve Women’s, gender, and sexuality studies professor Mingwei Huang: Think systemically, heartbeats. act collectively. Rest! Spanish and Portuguese professor José del Pino: Experiment your life as a Government and quantitative social science professor Yusaku Horiuchi: Be global, be permanent discovery. flexible, stay healthy! Anthropology and Russian professor Sergei Kan: Always be true to yourself. Earth sciences professor Erich Osterberg: Let batter rest for delicious pancakes. Mathematics professor Anne Gelb: Be robust and avoid ill-conditioning. Government professor James Murphy: Write your eulogy, then live it. Physics and astronomy professor Miles Blencowe: Always be a student at heart! Film and media studies and women’s, gender, and sexuality studies professor Mary Desjardins: Don’t be afraid to change direction. Psychological and brain sciences professor Jay Hull: Strive for work-life balance.
