Opening Exercises, Class of 2011

President Drew Gilpin Faust welcomed first-year students at the College in a ceremony at Sanders Theatre on Sunday, September 9...

President Drew Gilpin Faust welcomed first-year students at the College in a ceremony at Sanders Theatre on Sunday, September 9...

President Drew Gilpin Faust welcomed first-year students at the College in a ceremony at Sanders Theatre on Sunday, September 9. Audio of the remarks by Michael D. Smith, dean of the Faculty of Arts and Sciences, and by President Faust, is excerpted below; a transcript of Faust’s speech is posted at www.president.harvard.edu. Audio of the entire program, including music by the Holden Choirs and the Kuumba Singers of Harvard College, is also posted here.

Most popular

Is the Constitution Broken?

Harvard legal scholars debate the state of our founding national document.

Why Men Are Falling Behind in Education, Employment, and Health

Can new approaches to education address a growing gender gap?

Harvard Students, Alumna Named Rhodes and Marshall Scholars

Nine Rhodes and five Marshall scholars will study in the U.K. in 2026.

Explore More From Current Issue

Black and white photo of a large mushroom cloud rising above the horizon.

Open Book: A New Nuclear Age

Harvard historian Serhii Plokhy’s latest book looks at the rising danger of a new arms race.

A girl sits at a desk, flanked by colorful, stylized figures, evoking a whimsical, surreal atmosphere.

The Trouble with Sidechat

No one feels responsible for what happens on Harvard’s anonymous social media app.

Historic church steeple framed by bare tree branches against a clear sky.

Harvard’s Financial Challenges Lead to Difficult Choices

The University faces the consequences of the Trump administration—and its own bureaucracy