I was fortunate to have many members of my family travel to Swarthmore for graduation. Student Romane Paul, molecular biologist Bonnie Bassler, Quaker activist and organizer John Braxton, Morehouse College President Robert Franklin, and actor Stephen Lang delivered meaningful, thought-provoking, humorous, and reflective speeches. You can watch the whole ceremony here.
Since the Engineering majors are awarded separate BS degrees, we have a history of pulling pranks as our names are read. We wanted to ease President Chopp into this tradition; we had her illuminate light bulbs on our caps by flipping a switch as she handed us our diplomas:
The campus awoke on April 1 to find the big chair buried. Students, faculty, and administrators were astounded. The Facilities Department apparently got a number of sympathetic emails from professors expressing disgust for the disrespectful students who dug a giant hole in Parrish Beach.
(Time-lapse video courtesy of A Bastian)
Faculty members from the Engineering Department were called in to provide emergency consultation after part of the facade fell off of the rear of Parrish this morning. They apparently found massive structural defects and believe collapse is imminent. Non-essential personnel who work in Parrish’s Center Wing were evacuated this afternoon.