Jeff Martinek (class of 1987)

My brilliant former student (class of 1987) Jeff Martinek has been a professor at Iowa Wesleyan for many years—and recently won a teacher-of-the-year award. A local newspaper covered the commencement speech he gave to the graduating class. He recalled his Penn graduation in Franklin Field. From his speech: “It was over 100 degrees that day with the blazing sun frying us like bacon on an AstroTurf skillet, I had nothing on beneath my robe that day, but my Chuck Taylor high-tops, Van Halen t-shirt, and a pair of daisy dukes.” And: “Do not commence, at least not fully,” he said. “That is, if commencing means closing your books and closing your mind … knee-jerk resentment of the new and emergent and fear of the future as a dystopian nightmare where people like you will be replaced by strangers who will undo everything you once held sacred. “If all that is what commencement means, then I implore you, don’t do it.”

Here is the article:
https://www.southeastiowaunion.com/se-iowa-union-mount-pleasant/new-iw-grads-encouraged-to-commence-without-completely-commencing/