I somehow convinced myself that the convocation was a once in a lifetime kind of thing. That never again would I have a chance to attend a convocation for class of 2004. So I went with a friend from work and her roommates. My other friends who were graduating were busy with their own thing.

The ceremony was long. Since it was the Greek Theatre, we sat outside under the burning sun. I used the program to fan my face and shield my eyes. My sunglasses just weren\’t enough, I could feel my black hair heat up my entire face. Some of the speakers were very cliched. Most people ended their speeches with the typical \”GO BEARS\”!

The sad part was when Chancellor Berdahl was speaking. During the speech, some people started chanting \”Shame on you!\” I didn\’t really understand what they were protesting about. Their signs said something along the lines of \”Shame on Berdahl. Justice for Chapelle.\” I didn\’t get it. Random people told the protestors to shut up…show respect for the speaker. Apparently, Berdhal was slightly surprised because he stuttered the rest of his speech. Several officers approached the protestors and later they were escorted out of the Greek Theatre (as shown in the picture). But what a useless protest. The entire theatre probably didn\’t appreciate such actions…thus leading to an increase of indifference toward their cause.

The keynote speaker this year was Ted Koppel, that anchorman of ABC\’s \”Nightline\”. Compared with 2002\’s Johnny Moseley, it was so much better. But can I say that I was disappointed? Koppel\’s speech was mainly about how we should honor our parents who got us to college and how tough the real world is. He focused on how C+ students (he was supposedly a C+ undergrad at Stanford) will always be the presidents or vice presidents. Not to mention, he emphasized how the world isn\’t fair because non-Berkeley alumni will always be our supervisors. Then worst of all, he went onto to discuss the war in Iraq (how is that relevent?). But that\’s not the worst, he said, \”I know most of you are opposed to the war, but…i am not.\” Hello? He\’s saying this in Berkeley! His whole speech was political and warned us about what kind of world we\’re entering. No advice. Just brutal truth. At least he said (being a Stanford alumnus), \”Go bears\” albeit reluctantly.