Class Day Speeches Remember, Look Forward

Members of the class of '95 grouped for a message that would sum up their Harvard and Radcliffe experiences as they brought their college years to a close at yesterday's Class Day exercises.

Students and administrators alike mixed humor and nostalgia in a series of Speeches designed to put the finishing touches on a variety of Careers.

Speeches ranged from a farewell address by outgoing Dean of the college L. Fred Jewett '57 to a humorours s address by Ivy Orator Eric H. Baker '95 entitled "Luke Goes to Harvard: A Jedi in Cambridge.

Although Class Day Decidedly belonged to its featured speaker, Hank Aaron, First Marshal Elena Huang '95 perhaps best captured the mood of the class in her closing remarks.

Huang reminded her classmates that the College would always be a resource for them.

"In light of the deaths which have occurred at Harvard and Radcliffe this year, please take care of yourself and of those around you," she added.

Other speakers focused on the traditional or less-traditional aspects of a Harvard education.

Harvard Orator Clark H. Dean '95 recalled his first-year at Harvard, when Dean of the Faculty Jeremy R. Knowles welcomed the class because President Neil L. Rudenstine was not yet Officially in office.

Dean's address focused on the importance of fostering a sense of students and faculty learn to pay attention toone another's successes and failures. Deanreferred to a poem by W. H. Auden titledIcarus which he learned about in Gen Ed105; The Literature of Social Reflection.

In that painting, a failing Icarus splashesinto the sea as a ship sails by unaware. Deanurged his classmates not to be like that ship butto pay attention to their classmates splashes.

"Harvard is so much more than some Ivy-coveredtower," Dean said. "It is the people who endure inthis common experience, never failing to challengeourselves and never failing to stop and hear thesplash.

In an entirely different vein from Dean'sreminisces on life at Harvard, Radcliffe oratorNatasha H. Leland '95 discussed the shortattention spans and shortened memories which shesaid afflict many of the college generation.

Leland, who is a Crimson editor, reflected onthe fast pace of news events at Harvard and in theworld.

She jokingly referred to President Neil L.Rudenstine's medical leave of absence this fall,remarking: "Welcome back Mr. President. We'rehonored that you think yourself a part of ourclass-- although I see you are absent today," shesaid.

Rudenstine, who joined Harvard in 1991 at thesame time as members of the Class of '95, hadreferred to his poor attendance in hisbaccalaureate address Tuesday. The president didnot attend yesterday's Class Day ceremony.

In an entirely different tone, Baker Charmedthe class with his witty Ivy Oration, in which adazzled Luke Skywalker joins the ranks of Harvardstudents to fight of an evil Darth Vader whois--what else--a Yalie.

Baker delivered a Series of Subtle jabs atadministrators such as Dean of Students Archie"Ace" C. Epps III, who Luke told to "lose the bowtie."

Needless to say, Luke triumphed over Vader,saving the statue of John Harvard from destructionand earning passage to Harvard Law School. Vader,a Yale graduate, earned a job issuing Coop rebatechecks.

Students were not alone in addressing the ClassDay audience Jewett told the Class he wasespecially sorry to see them graduate as it meantthe end of his own tenure at Harvard.

"Both you and I will end together a specialpart of our Harvard experience," Jewett said."This year, and the graduation of the Class of1995 marks the end of an association that began 40years ago," When Jewett entered the College.

Finally, the Ames Awards for leadership,self-reliance and character were presented toMaria Paula rogahn '95 and Sarthak Das '95 fortheir public service to the community and theworld.

Rogan earned the support of her classmates forher volunteer efforts at the University LutheranShelter, Das was honored for his work with thechildren and sick of Mother Theresa's mission inCalcutta.

The Ames Awards are given each year in memoryof Richard L. Ames '34 and Henry L. Ames '38, whodied while trying to save their father who wasswept overboard at sea

In that painting, a failing Icarus splashesinto the sea as a ship sails by unaware. Deanurged his classmates not to be like that ship butto pay attention to their classmates splashes.

"Harvard is so much more than some Ivy-coveredtower," Dean said. "It is the people who endure inthis common experience, never failing to challengeourselves and never failing to stop and hear thesplash.

In an entirely different vein from Dean'sreminisces on life at Harvard, Radcliffe oratorNatasha H. Leland '95 discussed the shortattention spans and shortened memories which shesaid afflict many of the college generation.

Leland, who is a Crimson editor, reflected onthe fast pace of news events at Harvard and in theworld.

She jokingly referred to President Neil L.Rudenstine's medical leave of absence this fall,remarking: "Welcome back Mr. President. We'rehonored that you think yourself a part of ourclass-- although I see you are absent today," shesaid.

Rudenstine, who joined Harvard in 1991 at thesame time as members of the Class of '95, hadreferred to his poor attendance in hisbaccalaureate address Tuesday. The president didnot attend yesterday's Class Day ceremony.

In an entirely different tone, Baker Charmedthe class with his witty Ivy Oration, in which adazzled Luke Skywalker joins the ranks of Harvardstudents to fight of an evil Darth Vader whois--what else--a Yalie.

Baker delivered a Series of Subtle jabs atadministrators such as Dean of Students Archie"Ace" C. Epps III, who Luke told to "lose the bowtie."

Needless to say, Luke triumphed over Vader,saving the statue of John Harvard from destructionand earning passage to Harvard Law School. Vader,a Yale graduate, earned a job issuing Coop rebatechecks.

Students were not alone in addressing the ClassDay audience Jewett told the Class he wasespecially sorry to see them graduate as it meantthe end of his own tenure at Harvard.

"Both you and I will end together a specialpart of our Harvard experience," Jewett said."This year, and the graduation of the Class of1995 marks the end of an association that began 40years ago," When Jewett entered the College.

Finally, the Ames Awards for leadership,self-reliance and character were presented toMaria Paula rogahn '95 and Sarthak Das '95 fortheir public service to the community and theworld.

Rogan earned the support of her classmates forher volunteer efforts at the University LutheranShelter, Das was honored for his work with thechildren and sick of Mother Theresa's mission inCalcutta.

The Ames Awards are given each year in memoryof Richard L. Ames '34 and Henry L. Ames '38, whodied while trying to save their father who wasswept overboard at sea