| To Dream of How Things Could Be
Fordham’s 158th Commencement: Fr. O’Hare retires; The Koppels deliver
keynote; Liam Neeson is honored
After a historic 19-year tenure May 17 marked the final graduation ceremony
for the Rev. Joseph A. O’Hare, S.J., who is retiring as Fordham University’s
president. He encouraged this year’s graduates to be engaged in society.
“I pray we become successful, but we should not become complacent,” said
Father O’Hare. “You should maintain a healthy discontent about the way things
are because you dream of how things could be.”
Ted Koppel and his wife, Grace Anne Dorney Koppel (a Fordham alumna)
delivered the keynote address as they celebrated their 40th wedding anniversary. Koppel, who has hosted
ABC’s Nightline since the program was introduced in 1980, advised Fordham’s
3,980 graduates to encourage tolerance and stand up for their beliefs.
“If you truly want to fight hatred and, ultimately, eliminate terrorism,
nourish tolerance,” said Mr. Koppel, “who we are and what we believe is
important. But if we come to believe that we have a monopoly on truth and
virtue, we will fail.”
Ms. Dorney Koppel, who at one time worked at Fordham’s Department of
Speech and Drama, encouraged graduates to work to make the world a better place.
“Speak up for your values and respect the right of those who oppose you
to speak out for theirs,” she said. “Now is the moment to stop complaining
about the troubled times we live in and for you to make your own mark.”
Irish actor Liam Neeson received a Doctor of Fine Arts, honoris causa.
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