Mr. Rogers Causes Stir at Dartmouth

AP via NYTimes.com ^ | 6/6/02

[GeneD]

Filed at 2:07 p.m. ET

HANOVER, N.H. (AP) -- Television's Mr. Rogers greeted many of this year's Dartmouth College seniors daily when they were children, but some are not pleased he will be greeting them on graduation day.

Fred Rogers, of ``Mr. Rogers' Neighborhood'' fame, is this weekend's commencement speaker.

``It's like Barney the dinosaur speaking at our graduation,'' said history major Michael Weiss. ``We're 22 years old and we're getting lectured by a guy who plays with puppets for a living.''

Some student skeptics said they wondered whether Rogers would greet the graduates with a cheery ``Hello, neighbor,'' change his shoes before speaking, or wear his characteristic cardigan sweater rather than a cap and gown.

``I had hoped for someone more awe-evoking,'' said Chris Moore, a graduating philosophy major. ``Some secretary of the U.N., or (Rudolph) Guiliani, or a human rights leader.''

Dartmouth College President James Wright, who made the final choice of the commencement speaker, said a good speaker is someone students can look up to, who can draw from experience and make timely remarks.

Past Dartmouth commencement speakers have included Robert Reich, Bill Clinton, George Mitchell and Madeline Albright.

Rogers, 74, attended Dartmouth for two years during the 1940s before transferring to Rollins College in Winter Park, Fla.

[chs68]

"My experience is that Dartmouth Alumni are some of the most self-centered twits to ever roam the cosmos. (Based on a sample of about 15 :-D)"

I don't think we have ever met.

And, while I confess that from time to time, I can be a bit self-centered, I will never admit to being a twit.

It is amazing what has happened to the college I attended in the 30 years since I graduated.

I used to be embarrassed by the goings-on up in Hanover. Now, I am saddened.

And they still send me requests (and have freshmen call me) for money.

Fat chance they'll ever see any of my "Big Green".

[Paleo Conservative]

?I?Speakers to look up To?? Is he serious? You would be looking at two while standing in a pit, and the other two you would be wearing kneepads to look up.....Considering it?s?/i? Dartmouth, probably so. ?P? I guess they were too late to get a more prominent leftist speaker.

[Blue Screen of Death]

These snot-nosed little bastards should be PROUD to have Fred Rodgers as a commencement speaker.

Your entire comment is right on.

[Lanman]

Snip . . .
(As is Fred Rogers of television's Mister Rogers' Neighborhood. He too is rumored to have been a sniper, with even his penchant for long-sleeved cardigans ascribed to his hiding tattoos from the eyes of curious little tykes. Like Denver, Rogers never served in any branch of the military. He is an ordained minister in the United Presbyterian Church.)
Snip . .

Snipe(r) Hunt

[captnorb]

Wow, you should be proud...

[toddst]

Word has it that the soft-spoken ordained minister loved by so many children was in the USMC long ago and far away....

Lesse, kinda like "old Ben Konobe" (however it's spelled) former Jedi Knight? Doesn't surprise me a bit this gentle man could have sniper experience from the Marines and still dedicate himself to a special ministery for children. I hope these big "kids" are surprised and humbled - maybe even embarassed.

If anyone has access to the text of his speech after commencement, perhaps they could share it with us here on FR.

[NYer]

It's going to be a wonderful day in the neighborhood.

Fred Rogers Bump!

[Timesink]

``It's like Barney the dinosaur speaking at our graduation,'' said history major Michael Weiss

Barney is all you DESERVE, you arrogant little twerp. May you have a lifetime of bitterness.

[TrappedInLiberalHell]

Hey, I grew up watching Mr. Rogers! Barney couldn't carry Mr. Rogers' sweater! I'm more awe-inspired by Mr. Rogers than by any Secretary of the U.N.

[aristeides]

Speaking of UN Secretary Generals, I once heard Kofi Annan speak (shortly before he became UN Secretary General) at a conference at Yale Law School. I have never heard a duller, more vacuous speech.

[TrappedInLiberalHell]

By the way, Mr. Rogers taught me that the land of make-believe is real. They call it socialism today.

[Maceman]

I have never heard a duller, more vacuous speech.

I've never heard him, but he'd have to work pretty hard to be duller and more vacuous than Clinton.

[tracer]

I wonder whether Hendrickson or Brennan have ever been to FLETC to note the absence of the photo, etc. that my trusted friend states that he saw (he does have a wry sense of humor, but I never knew him to tell a fib).

But, then, who knows what is real anymore? Thanks.... 8~)

[NYer]

My nomination for next year's commencement speaker.

[SiKKuS]

Screw those snooty little brats, Mr Rogers was the comencement speaker at my wifes graduation years ago at UCONN. His speech was excellent and everyone was happy that the guy who was there when they started with their education was there to help send them off on their way when they had finished it. What a bunch of smallminded ungrateful scumbags. I suppose they would have rather had someone like Hillary. People like that make me want to puke!

[Corporate Law]

Another reason why the notion that the Ivies are the "best and brightest" is bunk. One speech by Mr. Rogers would probably teach them more than they learned in four years of Dartmouth drivel. Second, looking at the list of past speakers, Mr. Rogers is far more intellectual and honorable when compared to those idiots and criminals (and I have always considered Mr. Rogers to be extremely intelligent after reading interviews with him regarding child development). This honorable man deserves better than to be criticized by these little twerps.

A proud graduate of a NON-Ivy League school.

[Zack Attack]

Dartmouth College President James Wright, who made the final choice of the commencement speaker, said a good speaker is someone students can look up to, who can draw from experience and make timely remarks.

Past Dartmouth commencement speakers have included Robert Reich, Bill Clinton, George Mitchell and Madeline Albright.

...

Anyone else see a problem with the logic flow here?

[admiralsn]

"We're 22 years old and we're getting lectured by a guy who plays with puppets for a living."

Yeah, like Bill Clinton, who played with himself?????

What a bunch of spoiled brat whiners. I would have loved to have had Mr. Rogers as my commencement speaker. To be honest, mine made such an impression, I don't even remember him, or her. But in any event, I grew up with Mr. Rogers, and I loved him. And still do. These kids could still stand to learn a thing or two from a decent man.

[LiteKeeper]

Part of his bio:

In 1968 Rogers was appointed Chairman of the Forum on Mass Media and Child Development of the White House Conference on Youth. Besides two George Foster Peabody Awards, Emmys, "Lifetime Achievement" Awards from the National Academy of Television Arts and Sciences and the TV Critics Association, Fred Rogers has received every major award in television for which he is eligible and many others from special-interest groups in education, communications, and early childhood. In 1999, he was inducted into the Television Hall of Fame