Suzuki and McLachlin address grads
sarah issacs, the peak

To an alien visitor, convocation ceremonies this semester could be mistaken for a top-notch, three-day lecture series, featuring some of the most famous and powerful people in Canada. Six honourary degree recipients harangued the graduands with speeches about the country's future, the importance of social service and responsibility, and the present state of Canada.

Friday's graduands - those who attended convocation - were present as honourary degrees were awarded to the Chief Justice of the Supreme Court of Canada, Honourable Beverly McLachlin, and to scientist and environment activist David Suzuki.

sean dolan photos

In what appeared to be unintentional irony, Chief Justice McLachlin's address encouraged Business Administration students to contribute to Canada's institutions by considering employment in the public sector. As the head of one of Canada's most powerful and entrenched institutions, she offered the graduands her wisdom, saying, "I hope some of you contribute to public administration because without that nothing, including business, can flourish."

McLachlin, who was only recently appointed head of Canada's highest court, said she was very pleased to receive the honourary degree, adding, "while [SFU] doesn't have a law school ... it is a centre for debate and discussion for justice issues."

In sharp contrast to Chief Justice McLachlin's call to march forth and support the system, David Suzuki invoked fear and activism in the hearts of those graduating from the Faculty of Science.

Suzuki, who already holds 13 honourary degrees, spoke of the world's ecological crisis and called upon students to go into the world and spread the message of the urgency for increased environmental awareness and action.

Suzuki focused on the importance of recognizing that nature is no longer a predictable system thanks to the interference of human technology and humans themselves, which he called the Earth's only "superspecies." He told the audience in alarming and uncompromising terms, "The planet is heating up - unless you happen to write for the National Post or listen to the Fraser Institute - we all know that the planet is heating up."

It was fitting that a speaker such as Suzuki, a person responsible for raising environmental consciousness by consistently and passionately conveying the facts, should address a university that he claims "has always struck me as saucier, more energetic, and determined to make a distinctive mark."

And as for the graduands themselves? Sources claim that students graduating in Business Administration had to be told repeatedly to turn off their cell phones, which many were using to inform friends and family of their precise location while advancing toward Convocation Mall.

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