Biden, a last name that may have meant very little to most college students just a month ago, is now a surname on the tip of everyone's tongues.
Joseph "Beau" Biden, a 1991 College alumnus, Attorney General of Delaware and son of Vice Presidential nominee and Delaware Sen. Joe Biden, came to speak last night about his time at Penn, his law career and Illinois Sen. Barack Obama.
A part of the College Alumni Mentoring Series in Claudia Cohen Hall, Biden's presentation lasted about 20 minutes.
He reflected on his time as a history major, emphasizing how important it is to develop good writing skills while in college. He also mentioned that although he was not involved in the Undergraduate Assembly, he did "see many speaker presentations, play lightweight football and become active in [a] fraternity."
During his speech, Biden answered student questions about everything from his stance on gun control laws to his relationship with his dad, who he describes as his "best friend and a hero." He stressed that although Joe Biden has been in public life for many years, he has always prioritized being a father over his job.
He also noted that although "there's a lot on the line, and the public opinion will continue to go up and down, I am confident that Obama will prevail and win this election."
Outside of the political realm, Biden's advice to Penn students, who he describes as "the leaders of tomorrow," is two-fold: do something that is meaningful and once you find yourself in a leadership position, surround yourself with people who are as smart or smarter than you.
"Because of how intelligent you are and what Penn gives you, you will really be able to shape the world you live in," he said. "To the extent that you can afford it, try to find a job in the public sector, wherever that may be."
College junior Lauren Burdette, president of Penn Dems, spoke highly of Biden's speech. "I think he was phenomenal. Politicians sometimes lack authenticity in presentation, and he was not like that at all," she said.
College senior Stefanos Kasselakis found the talk equally interesting, saying, "He has a very similar style to his dad's. He often interjects personal stories, which can drive a point home with candor."
As College Dean Dennis DeTurck explained, Biden's speech is the first in the series of CAMS presentations which bring alumni "back to campus to talk about shared liberal arts experiences." Several more presentations are coming up this fall, including ones during Family Weekend and in early November.
