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Friedman '75 to deliver commencement address
Last update: April 26, 11:24 p.m. The three-time Pulitzer Prize-winning journalist agreed to speak after David Halberstam, who was slated to deliver the keynote address, died last Monday.
by Michael Grillo
News Editor
News | 4/24/07
Posted online at 11:15 PM EST on 4/26/07
/ Last updated at 11:17 AM EST on 4/26/07
New York Times foreign affairs columnist Thomas Friedman '75 will deliver the keynote address at this year's commencement ceremony, according to a University press release issued today.
Friedman, a three-time Pulitzer Prize winner and member of the Board of Trustees, agreed to speak after the noted author David Halberstam, who was slated to deliver the speech and receive an honorary degree at the May 20 ceremony, died Monday in a car accident in Menlo Park, California, at the age of 73.
Halberstam, also a Pulitzer Prize winner, received his award for coverage of the Vietnam War for The New York Times.
In the press release, University President Jehuda Reinharz expressed sorrow over Halberstam's death:
"David Halberstam was truly a gift to this century-the country has lost one of the last great renaissance men," he wrote.
Reinharz added that he is "deeply grateful" to Friedman for agreeing to speak.
In addition to his work for The Times, Friedman is a best-selling author who penned "From Beirut to Jerusalem," the 1989 winner of the National Book Award for nonfiction, and "The World is Flat: A Brief History of the Twenty-First Century."
Author Joyce Carol Oates, biologist Judah Folkman, vocalist Marilyn Horne, former Canadian Minister of Justice Irwin Cotler and architect Daniel Libeskind will receive honorary degrees from the University during the 56th commencement ceremony, according to the release.
Friedman, a three-time Pulitzer Prize winner and member of the Board of Trustees, agreed to speak after the noted author David Halberstam, who was slated to deliver the speech and receive an honorary degree at the May 20 ceremony, died Monday in a car accident in Menlo Park, California, at the age of 73.
Halberstam, also a Pulitzer Prize winner, received his award for coverage of the Vietnam War for The New York Times.
In the press release, University President Jehuda Reinharz expressed sorrow over Halberstam's death:
"David Halberstam was truly a gift to this century-the country has lost one of the last great renaissance men," he wrote.
Reinharz added that he is "deeply grateful" to Friedman for agreeing to speak.
In addition to his work for The Times, Friedman is a best-selling author who penned "From Beirut to Jerusalem," the 1989 winner of the National Book Award for nonfiction, and "The World is Flat: A Brief History of the Twenty-First Century."
Author Joyce Carol Oates, biologist Judah Folkman, vocalist Marilyn Horne, former Canadian Minister of Justice Irwin Cotler and architect Daniel Libeskind will receive honorary degrees from the University during the 56th commencement ceremony, according to the release.
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