Golden State Today

Chancellor Carol Christ imparted words of wisdom and encouragement to the graduating class at UC Berkeley's 2024 commencement ceremony. She began by extending her heartfelt congratulations to the graduates, acknowledging their resilience in overcoming unprecedented challenges.

She also addressed a protest that had been ongoing on campus for nearly three weeks, expressing her deep concern about the violence in Gaza and the destruction of educational institutions and vital infrastructure. She affirmed her commitment to peaceful resolution, consistent with Berkeley's historical approach to similar protests.

In addition, Chancellor Christ mourned civilian casualties in Israel due to a terrorist attack and expressed distress over the continued imprisonment of Israeli hostages. She lamented how this conflict has led to divisions among students, faculty, and staff, resulting in antisemitism and anti-Palestinian harassment. The Chancellor called for a restoration of civil discourse and recognition of shared humanity.

As she prepared the graduates for their next journey, she urged them to reflect on these issues. She emphasized that the future of democracy depends on engaging in civil discourse across divides and rejecting forces of division and polarization.

Despite recent events and the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic, Chancellor Christ marveled at how well the students navigated these complicated times. Their presence at graduation was testament to their remarkable accomplishments.

The Chancellor encouraged graduates to pause, reflect, and consider all they have gained from their time at Berkeley. She also took time to express gratitude towards everyone who helped them reach this milestone – including Berkeley’s extraordinary faculty and staff who worked tirelessly amidst these challenging times.

She highlighted Berkeley's belief in individual and institutional agency – emphasizing that through knowledge discovery, development, dissemination, and discussion we can make the world a better place.

Before concluding her address, Chancellor Christ expressed her pleasure at having UC Regent John Pérez present at the ceremony. She lauded his dedication to public service as a labor leader, Speaker of the Assembly, UC Regent; his efforts towards keeping education affordable, equitable, and predictable; and his advocacy for a student body that better reflects the people of California.

In her parting words, Chancellor Christ wished the graduates a fulfilling future. She urged them to hold onto their Berkeley experiences and use them to serve themselves and the world around them.