Wesleyan "Weirdness" Dominates Graduation Ceremonies

Wesleyan University’s Andrus field was transformed into a red sea of caps and gowns on Sunday, as the school celebrated its 179th commencement ceremony, sending off the class of 2011 to, “…plant  their seeds of wonderful Wesleyan weirdness wherever they go.”

Throughout the ceremony 719 students beamed as they accepted their bachelor of arts degrees. Forty five others were awarded a master of arts in Liberal Studies degrees, 35 were granted master of arts degrees and 14 were bestowed with doctor of philosophy degrees.

In her address, senior Margot Boyer-Dry recalled the first time she heard the words  “Keep Wesleyan Weird.”.

“What does it mean to ‘keep Wesleyan weird’? Surely, there is no shortage of unusual happenings here. You’d be hard-pressed to find another place where people are so excited about raw milk co-ops, acro-yoga, and entrepreneurial peer haircutting.

“What those students referred to as Wesleyan’s ‘weirdness’ is what distinguishes this place from the many others that are holding their own commencement ceremonies this weekend. The concept of this ‘weirdness’ translates, for me, to a deep commitment to individual authenticity. Wesleyan has instilled in us the bravery to actively cultivate a lifestyle based on the things that we value. So, in the end it turns out that, what some have taken for Wesleyan students’ weirdness is actually our capacity to follow our bliss… and our aptitudes and our principles. Our active pursuit of our own weirdness at Wesleyan not only signifies the formative nature of this place and this time, but lays the groundwork for us to continue living in this deeply human way for the rest of our lives.”

Wesleyan University’s President, Michael Roth, who graduating in 1978, addressed this year’s class as, “The mighty class of 2011.” He explained, as the eager wide eyes of the graduates looked to him for words of wisdom.“Over the coming years, I know you will practice forms of thinking that create opportunity rather than defend inequality. I know that you will find new ways to build community, to experience the arts, to join authenticity with civility. When this happens, you will feel the power and promise of your education. And we, your Wesleyan family, we will be proud of how you keep your education alive by making it effective in the world.  Now we alumni are counting on you to join us in helping to shape our culture, so that it will not be shaped by forces of fear and violence.”

It’s a heavy load bestowed upon these new graduates.  Following in the footsteps of those before them, such as famous Wesleyan alumni, Bill Belichick, head coach of the New England Patriots and three time Super Bowl winner, Emmy Award winning actress Dana Delany and Ka-keung Ceajer Chan, Hon Kong’s secretary for financial services and treasury and Dean of Hong Kong University of Science and Technology Business School, to name a few. These 2011 graduates are destined for greatness in whatever their “Wesleyan Weirdness” has in store for them.