U. holds 243rd Commencement

U.S. Treasury Secretary Robert Rubin spoke Monday at the only University-wide ceremony. While the approximately 4,370 graduating Penn students attended separate graduation ceremonies for their respective schools throughout this past weekend, they had ample opportunity during Monday morning's Commencement to unite and celebrate their different and varied accomplishments. The 243rd annual Commencement -- Penn's only University-wide graduation ceremony -- brought graduates from the University's 12 undergraduate and graduate schools to Franklin Field on Monday. While Penn's Commencement service always attracts local media outlets, Monday's event may have garnered even more national attention when U.S. Secretary of the Treasury Robert Rubin -- this year's Commencement Speaker -- announced last week that he would resign from his position, effective July 4. But Rubin, who is praised by many financial experts for his work in revitalizing the U.S. economy, made no mention of his resignation throughout the address, choosing instead to offer advice to the graduates on their collective futures. He stressed the importance of making good decisions in any and all professions, but noted that it is difficult to think quickly -- and carefully -- in today's society of "global markets and technology." "In the complex world of today, decision making has become ever more difficult, but the fundamentals of decision making have remained the same," Rubin said, hailing "effective decision making" as the "key to almost everything you will do." Rubin -- who has also served as director of the National Economics Council and as co-chairman and a senior partner at Goldman Sachs & Co. in New York City -- claimed that in order to make good judgements, one must "reject absolute answers," "weigh the probabilities" and act decisively "in the face of uncertainty." And University Provost Robert Barchi, who introduced the Commencement Speaker, said Rubin -- a man of "integrity, pragmatism and wisdom" -- has created "tangible positive results" during his tenure in President Clinton's cabinet. The Treasury Secretary also received an honorary degree from the University on Monday, along with tennis legend Billie Jean King and University Board of Trustees Chairperson Roy Vagelos. Noted female historian Gerda Lerner, renowned biochemist Earl Reece Stadtman and Isabella Lugoski Karle, a pioneer in enzyme regulation, all received degrees honoris causa as well. Barchi presented 20 seniors with an assortment of leadership awards and saluted the members of the nine undergraduate and graduate student honor societies. After University Chaplain William Gipson delivered the Invocation, University President Judith Rodin addressed the graduates, welcoming them to the "community of Penn alumni" and praising them for their achievements and growth. "Not only have you expanded your minds at Penn, you've also expanded your consciences," Rodin said, lauding the graduating students for their "historic commitment to service." The ceremony culminated with the recognition of the graduates from each of the 12 different schools, beginning with the School of Arts and Sciences and ending with the Annenberg School for Communication. When School of Arts and Sciences Dean Samuel Preston stepped to the podium and announced that he was speaking "on behalf of the School of Arts and Sciences," many of the School's students -- seated together in the middle of the field -- stood on their chairs and wildly cheered, drowning out the remainder of Preston's remarks. Last year's Commencement Speaker was former President Jimmy Carter.