[The 124th Commencement at Lake Forest College]

Studs Terkel speaks at the 2002 Commencement at Lake Forest College in Lake Forest, Illinois. Honorary degrees are given to Deborah Leff, Carl Lorenzo MaultsBy, Cass R. Sunstein, and Studs Terkel. Terkel speaks at

01:01:00 after being presented with his honorary degree.

00:00 Musicians play while students and faculty, clad in traditional caps and gowns, process into the auditorium. Later, the audience sings “America the Beautiful.”

16:10 President of Lake Forest College Stephen D. Schutt brings the ceremony to order and shares an opening reflection. Father James S. Gordon then delivers the opening invocation.

21:39 A graduating senior, the class of 2002’s student speaker delivers his address.

39:29 Graduate Neil Robert Nicholson explains the senior class pledge program, which raises money for the university from graduates.

42:21 Deborah Leff receives an honorary degree.

46:53 Lake Forest College alum Carl Lorenzo MaultsBy, a musician, conductor, composer and teacher, is presented with an honorary degree.

51:46 Cass R. Sunstein, noted writer and law scholar, receives an honorary Doctor of Laws degree.

55:39 Studs Terkel receives an honorary Doctor of Letters degree.

01:01:11 Terkel begins his speech, playfully calling himself “the oldest geezer ever to make a commencement address.” He speaks on the topic, “The Need to Ask Why.”

01:16:10 The college President announces the degrees to be conferred upon graduating students. Students receiving the Master of Liberal Studies degree are presented. Students receiving a Bachelor of Arts degree follow.