News
“Hang in there. You get surprised” Haddity ’83 tells Class & Charter convocation
By Ben Fields ’15
May 15, 2015
Surprise was the word of the day at this year’s Class and Charter ceremony. Whether it was class of ’83 alum John Hadity’s speech or student and faculty awards, everyone left surprised. This year marked the 65th Class and Charter convocation—the tradition was started in 1950 by then-President Robert Ward McEwen—and was held for the first time in Wellin Hall. The ceremony began with a processional featuring the faculty, then student honorees and finally President Stewart, Deans Thompson and Reynolds, College Marshall Jane Watson Irving Professor of English Margie Thickstun and Associate Dean of Faculty Penny Yee joined Mr. Hadity on stage. Perhaps the most whimsical part of the ceremony followed this processional, as Professor of Music Sam Pellman continued his processional and ended with a flourish after allowing Professor Thickstun to wait a little while at the podium.
As all official Hamilton College gatherings begin, so too did the Class and Charter ceremony, with Professor Thickstun banging her cane on the floor and announcing, “This assembly will come to order.” President Stewart then introduced Mr. Hadity, warning the audience that they were likely to leave with aching jaws from laughing so much. Her affection for the outgoing Alumni Association President was evident, and it brought warmth to the stage.
Delivering an address that he titled “The Underrated Element of Surprise,” Mr. Hadity owned the stage and the room throughout his speech. He began by explaining how he loves surprises, explaining that part of his excitement in delivering the address was because the day is so full of surprises. As he detailed his history, and how he ended up as a film executive, Mr. Hadity was entertaining at times, reflective at other times, but overall explained that life is never quite what it seems. Ultimately he told the audience how much he did at Hamilton, and how much it meant to him, saying, “Anyway, my point is, I was in Heaven.”
Through his time at Hamilton, he surprised himself by finding his love for film and the arts. More than anything, Mr. Hadity said, he found that he wanted an Oscar. This desire led him to go to New York City following his graduation, but he did not initially find a job in film. Rather, he explained, he sold toothbrushes on the fifth floor of Bloomingdales. Mr. Hadity paused during his speech to explain that during his early years in New York he came out, “which was a surprise, to NO ONE EVER!” He made a point to thank his partner Scott, despite the fact that he did not allow Mr. Hadity to line his academic regalia in Pucci or Armani.
In the end Mr. Hadity told his audience that “The lesson here is they have got to believe in you (not your product).” Throughout his career, he has produced some flops—Halloween 8 for example—but has never given up, and has made some amazing films as well—Shakespeare in Love. In the end, Mr. Hadity said, “That’s my message. Hang in there. You get surprised.”
After Mr. Hadity ceded the stage to President Stewart, the award portion of the ceremony began. A total of 164 students received awards ranging from academic distinction to campus service and more. After recognizing the various academic prizes and co-curricular awards, President Stewart announced the two special prizes Hamilton gives out each year: The Milton F. Filius Jr./Joseph Drown Prize Scholarship and The James Soper Merrill Prize. The Filius/Drown Prize is given to a junior who has “been very successful academically, who has demonstrated outstanding leadership qualities while at Hamilton and who is likely to make a significant contribution to society in the future.” This year it was presented to Abigail Homer ’16.
The highest honor awarded at Class and Charter Day is the James Soper Merrill Prize, given to a senior who typifies the highest ideals of the College. This year’s winner, selected by the faculty, is Meghan O’Sullivan ’15. In addition to receiving the award, O’Sullivan will speak at Commencement.
Following the student awards, Dean Reynolds presented five Scholarly Achievement Awards to: Tom Jones, Elias W. Leavenworth professor of anthropology, Associate Professor of History Lisa Trivedi, Professors of English and Creative Writing Doran Larson and Naomi Guttman and Assistant Professor of Art Rob Knight.
Four faculty members received distinguished teaching awards. Director of the Education Studies Program Susan Mason won the Sidney Wertimer Award, given by Student Assembly to someone who is recognized as a mentor and active participant at Hamilton. Assistant Professor of Mathematics Courtney Gibbons won the John R. Hatch Award, given to a tenure-track faculty member who has been employed by the College for fewer than five years. Max Majireck, assistant professor of chemistry, won the Class of 1963 Excellence in Teaching Award.
Perhaps the most emotional moment of the ceremony came when Professor of Classics and Africana Studies Shelley Haley received the Samuel & Helen Lang Prize for Excellence in Teaching. After Dean Reynolds read several students’ nominations of her teaching, he presented the prize to Haley. Over-come with emotion, Haley was given a standing ovation by the audience.
Just as it began, the ceremony ended with a banging of the cane and Professor Thickstun saying, “This assembly is adjourned.”