R-E-S-P-E-C-T: Stars shine at Yale's 309th commencement.

[CTyankee]

Aretha Franklin receives a Doctor of Music honorary degree from Yale. Denzel Washington and Steven Spielberg are on hand to see their kids receive their undergraduate degrees.

Plus other dignitaries. Story, photos and video at link:

http://www.nhregister.com/articles/2010/05/25/news/new_haven/doc4bfb9c49dc18e141260847.txt

President Bill Clinton spoke at Class Day on Sunday.

Yale sure had a mother lode of superstars this year!

[Captain Hilts]

1. Them's that has, gets. nt

[CTyankee]

2. One of the nice things about living in New Haven is that Yale gets

great speakers all throughout the year, often because the famous speaker has a kid there. Arianna Huffington came and spoke at a Yale political union event recently (her daughter is a sophomore). Brian Williams came and spoke at a "Master's Tea" (his daughter is here). I've seen Doris Kearns Goodwin and the late Lloyd Cutler at the Law School. The master's teas can be hard to get into because they are held at the house of the headmaster of one of the 10 residential colleges at Yale (a system no other school has). Space is limited and students get the first dibs. I would have loved to see Meryl Streep when she spoke at one a few years back but there was, predictably, an overflow of attendees. Ditto when Jody Foster spoke.

We also get some really fine actors at the Yale Rep. Sam Waterston is a regular...

[Captain Hilts]

4. Yale has the reputation of where famous folks' kids go to school.

If they're not all that academically inclined, they go to Brown.

The college system is the British system and is used in Canada as well. A buddy of mine whose parents were diplomats went to Yale. He said he just couldn't fit in because the others in his college were so wealthy. They'd go skiing on weekends to Switzerland. One guy's grandfather started a company called 'Timex'.

I've done a fair amount of work there in the Manuscript Room.

[msongs]

3. nice to see the super wealthy are welcome at Yale lol - Bush's alma mater nt

[CTyankee]

5. I know Yalies who aren't rich. One of them is a mail carrier!

Another one spent some time in a homeless shelter and in prison. I've known kids from the midwest and very middle class who went to Yale.

Yale has a huge share of rich assholes but they're not all like that...

[Captain Hilts]

6. True. But it really helps to be wealthy to have the opportunity to apply to and get in Yale.

My high school class had 700 kids. Only 200 went to college.

None went to a private college or university.

Where you are helps determine your options.

[CTyankee]

7. I've only known a few really rich ones...

but of course it may be that I just like the poorer ones!

[Captain Hilts]

8. That's funny. I made friends with two other kids at my graduate school -

end up their dads were also navy captains - two of us USN the other RN.

Our friendships are pre-reflectively very self-selecting!

Keep the faith!

[CTyankee]

9. What was your research on when you were at the Bieneke?

I've never been in that library. I did research at the Sterling Library (which is so beautiful) or rather the Music School library which is attached to it. And also the library at the Div School.

[Captain Hilts]

10. It's in Sterling. I have been in Bieneke also though. Neat-o. nt