understand where they are coming from and along those lines read and watch things that challenge your beliefs. don't be deterred or discouraged by those who criticize you. learn from what they say. live in the moment but plan for the future and most importantly, learn from the past. be kind and compassionate not just your family and friends. that is easy but you strangers and especially to your enemies. i hope you don't have any of those. do good things but not to some people are watching but also when there's nobody around to give you credit. that is the test of current true character. finally everything in moderation including moderation. thank you class of 2025 for letting me share this with you. congratulations. [cheering]

>> thank you, class of 2025. congratulations. [applause] >> today's show cohost al reform oker encouraged graduates to pursue fearlessly and embrace diversity. [applause] my kids will be so embarrassed. [laughter] which is really the bonus of being a parent.

good morning president seifer, members of the board of trustees, distinguished faculty, honored guests, proud families and most importantly graduates of 2025. [cheering] good morning saints. [cheering] i mean, how great is this morning on a sunday morning? let's face it, we got as an american pope. pope pope leo xiv baby. i mean let's face it the only atbetter college than siena is maybe the college of cardinals. let's face it they've got their mascot already in their name cardinals. i just came from a three hour session of saugus sitting. [laughter] i had some of those great chips so i know, just like you right about now your buttocks are

tingling. your faculty, the staff, your parents, you want words of wisdom for me too send your students off as they start this next journey. but, as far as i know you students class of 2025 you just want me too shut up and get your diplomas. anyway. before i get started i want to you all to stand right now class of 2025. [applause] i would like you to please base your family and friends and everyone who supported you in the stands and give them a big round of applause. [applause] now, look to your left.

look to your right. height five your classmate for all of the support you've given each other. and now you can sit down. you see in this way, the tingling is gone away. believe it or not we have something in common you have b been attending at siena college. i went to elementary school and went to a parish called saint catholic of siena. your saint was bernadine, mind catherine. but it makes you wonder what was going on in siena back then? they had so many saints. siena produced saint victor, saint savio, i don't even want to mention the city's patron saints. what was siena's slogan? we have the saints. but the fact is, siena college has an amazing motto truth,

truth and as you the class of 2025 prepare for the next part of your journey truth has been part of your path. faith has been in trickle part of your path here. compassion has been part of your path here. you have been given a unique opportunity, a superior education breeds together knowledge, faith and truth together. it's no wonder at siena college has been ranked number one in new york for landing meaningful career oriented jobs three ears and a rope by the department of education and you know what that means? you are probably going to be the last to get that ranking since her getting rid of the college -- make the department of education. good on you. but seriously you might be asking why am i here? what qualifies me too send you off on your journey last of

2025? it's not about what you know but who you know. i know one of your alarm. top is executive producer that show he's class of 1993. he was sitting where you are sitting right now. everything he learned. everything he was taught led him to one of the most important decisions of his career. asking me too give you this address. the only other important decision he made was actually allowing karen, his wife, to say i choose you because face it, if you have known tom he is a lucky man. and now tom, you can retire your work here is done. you are all the nexus of your lives what would you do with your family, friends, faculty of giving you? this world-class education with an underlying foundation of faith and truth.

there is a beacon from this morning's homily during pope leo's inaugural mass. he says quote, brothers and sisters i would like that her first great desire to be for united church, a sign of unity and communion which becomes 11. in this, our time, we still seek too much discord. too many wounds caused by a hatred, violence, prejudice, the fear of difference and an economic paradigm that exploits the earth's resources and marginalize the poorest. for our part, we want to be a small unity, community and for fraternity within the world." keep that in mind as you move on to your next phase. whether you have the job lined up for a grad student with acceptance in hand, some of you may be trying to figure out where your charger is and

whether adult thing includes taxes, laundry, or remembering to floss. but, let me offer this. i was where you were sitting many years ago. i was a chubby balding sophomore. thank you for that tepid response. that was good. [laughter] i was going to college i actually got a job at the end of my sophomore year work at the cbs station in syracuse on weekends doing television weather. my news director took a chance on me i learned not from what he said but his example. he believed in truth. that was our job he did tell me one thing when we were hanging around the newsroom after one newscast had stuck he said rocher, no matter how hard we try. no matter what we do, remember you cannot home plate crab. another it's no matter how pretty you package it up there's

no substance it does not matter. truth matters that is never been more relevant than right now. we are in a moment when truth is under attack that loudest voice too often drowned out the most honest one work misinformation spreads a faster and fax that is why your voices matter. whether you are going into journalism, business, science, art, education, public service, your responsibility is the same to lead with integrity to ground yourself and those around you and truth to resist the temptation to chase over vital and when you run into somebody like i did early in my career in cleveland who tries to reduce you to a stereotype or just a number, there was ignorance in your face you do not let that define you. you define the moment i had an anchor man in cleveland this was after being harassed by what

happened to be a black homeless person after the 11:00 p.m. news said to me it live on the 6:00 o'clock news the next morning al, do you know it last night one of your people attacked me? and i said, why would a weatherman attack you? [laughter] and then just decided to give the forecast. because i decide in that moment sometimes grace is lighter than outrage but sometimes you change the world now by kicking through the front door but by holding it open for the next person coming behind you. i've been very lucky. i've worked with legend listed next to anchors at eyewash growing up. but more than anything i've been blessed to see progress. not just in my career but the industry i've chosen. a ball some diversity is a dirty word those committed to just an equality, it is not. part of your siena admission it says and i quote, we seek to build a community strengthen byte diversity. members work together in friendship and respect.

committed to building a world that is more just, peaceable, and humane. which is so important. the job i started, i started doing that i used to draw up figures and weather symbols on a chalkboard. but now with 3d modeling and climate data covering stories from heat domes to hurricanes, climate change, the role it may have changed a little bit. the media may have changed but that mission is the same. tell the truth, serve the public and tell people to bring their umbrellas. so class of 2025 years of the best advice i can give you beat your self. everyone else is taken and honestly those people usually overrated. know your worth but check your ego. confidence is earned, arrogance is borrowed. my mentor, willard scott who i was able to step into his issues

after he left the today show. told me never forget your day job no matter where you go, what you build, how high you climb, remember how you got there and who helped you get there. and remember a, b, c always to be charging. whether it is your phone or your spirit. the world is going to demand a lot from you. that is not new but you are more than ready. because siena did not to teach you how to think, it tight you had to lead. how to serve, and how to serve tall. especially when it is uncomfortable. we have seen too many of our leaders stay silent or capitulate to ideas or ideals they know are wrong. so go out there, make noise, make a change. and here's another truth i will leave you with. make your parents happy by finally getting off the gravy train. [laughter]

[applause] just yesterday i got the privilege and honor to watch my son, nick, who is a neuro- diverse learner get his associates degree. [cheering] [applause] and if i am lucky, it's another only two years of writing a check like that. so i know your parents want you to get out there, get your own phone plan your own netflix login. [laughter] the "new york times" siena college poll says you have a one 100% chance of success. and there is no margin of error in that poll. class of 2025 congratulations.

[applause] >> we continue with commencement speeches from across the country. up next actress james fonda, then we will hear from ezabeth banks from the university of pennsylvania and later remarks from henry winkler at georgetown university. >> in a nation divided a rare moment of unity this fall c-span presents ceasefire where the shouting stops in a town that partisan fighting prevails, one table, two leaders, one goal to find common ground, this fall, ceasefire on the network that doesn't take sides only on c-span.

♪ ♪ ♪ >> looking to contact members of congress, well, c-span is making it easy for you with our 2025 congressional directory, get essential contact information from government officials all in one place, this spiral guide contains bion and contact information for every house and senate member of the 119th congress, contact information on congressional committees, the president's cabinet, federal agencies and state governors, the congressional director cost 32.95 plus shipping and handling and every helps support c-span nonprofit operations. scan to the right or order your copy today. >> actress and activist jane fonda delivers commencement ee