Despite pouring rain, cold temperatures and blustering wind, students from Cornell’s Class of 2026 gathered across two commencement ceremonies on Saturday to receive conferments of their degrees.
During the ceremonies, President Michael Kotlikoff spoke to the graduates about the importance of democracy in context of the United States’ upcoming 250th anniversary and freedom of expression both in and out of the classroom. The audience received him amid a sea of umbrellas and ponchos given out by graduation stewards.
Both Kathryn J. Boor, professor of food science and graduation marshal, and Provost Kavita Bala made remarks about the weather prior to introducing Kotlikoff’s speech.
“Nothing can dampen the spirit of the class of 2026,” Boor said. Bala followed with similar remarks, stating “we’ve had some debate in this group about whether this is the worst weather we’ve seen [for commencement] in recent memory, and the jury is still out.”
Kotlikoff began the speech with a moment of silence, honoring “the students who should’ve been,” who died before they could graduate. An empty chair was placed on the field in their memory.
He then brought up the United States’ upcoming 250th birthday, emphasizing the importance that Andrew Dickson White and Ezra Cornell, the founders of Cornell University, had in advancing the idea that all men are created equal.
“They would go forth equipped not only to lead lives of impact, but to bring forth in every generation the democratic values of our nation from an institution where any person could find instruction in any production,” Kotlikoff said.
The topic then shifted to freedom of expression.
“Universities are the training grounds, the playing fields for our democracy. It’s where students learn to exercise the right of free expression and to understand their responsibility as a part of a society to protect those rights for everyone,” Kotlikoff remarked. “In our democracy everyone must be able to air their views, to test and debate, to say things others might find offensive.”
Freedom of speech has been a contentious topic this past academic year as students have adapted to the University’s revised Expressive Activity Policy. Ongoing Code of Conduct revisions have also been a subject of debate and will be finalized July 1 for the Fall 2026 Semester.
Students for a Democratic Cornell, a student campaign dedicated to reforming Cornell’s Code of Conduct, have criticized freedom of expression on campus over the past academic year through protests and messages in chalk, some of which were erased during admitted students’ weekend. SDC recently had a confrontation with President Kotlikoff about freedom of expression which led to one student and one former student being hit by Kotlikoff’s car. An investigation found that the students’ actions were “inconsistent with university policy.”
“Outside the classroom, we assure the freedom to speak out and vent the frustrations inherent in a world that too often disappoints. But playing fields and democracies have rules that are meant to protect everyone. Enforcing those rules are rarely popular, but without those rules, one person's passion becomes another's tyranny,” Kotlikoff said.
Kotlikoff ended the speech by discussing the meaning of democracy.
“Democracy… is the unfinished work that awaits you for better things in our beloved country,” Kotlikoff said. “Congratulations to you all.”
The speech was then followed by a performance of the anthem “Beati Quorum Via” by the Cornell University Chorus and Glee Club.
After that, the conferral of degrees began, led by Kotlikoff. According to Cornell, out of over 8,000 degree earners, approximately 6,000 of them would attend, split evenly across the two ceremonies. Individual colleges also hosted their own events separate from the main graduation ceremony.
Boor ended the ceremony with an announcement that Connie Mabry, who heads the commencement office for the University Events Team, was retiring. Mabry directed commencement for the past 37 years and served Cornell for 46 years.
During the ceremony, Bala reminded students that the most important parts of a Cornell education come from when students were challenged to think differently and learn from their peers.
“What they learned in and out of classes gave them the courage to face the future with confidence, to navigate uncertainty, and to explore new opportunities with curiosity,” Bala said, referring to alumni she had spoken to. “What you have learned here at Cornell will serve you through all these life changes.”
Everett Chambala is a member of the Class of 2027 in the School of Industrial and Labor Relations. He is a staff writer for the News department and can be reached at echambala@cornellsun.com.
