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President Simmons, eleven years ago Brown invited you to become our President
You came, you saw, and you won the hearts of a generation of students, faculty, staff members, parents and alumni.
By taking us to the 21st Century, you left your mark on this institution forever.
Music: "Among snowy mountains, The one moving thing Was the eye of the blackbird."
"I don't know if I can leave this place / I know I will look for you beneath the shadows of trees"
"Under rocks, deep in the soil and try to find my way back to your voices"
"To tell everyone that comes in and out of this place, that our ghosts once haunted this place"
"That our words shook these walls, creaked every floorboard in this house"
"Tore down every shutter, flailing in the wind"
"But this time, and I promise this time, I will never, ever forget"
Music: "Imagine a single, as we cross at your feet, you and I knowing rhythm, tracing words on their beat"
Eleven years ago, we could never have imagined that today that we would say farewell
As your time at Brown is coming to a close, we would be remissed if we did not also say "Job Well Done"
You have shown us all how to dream big and make the impossible a reality
Thank you above all for always putting Brown first
Music: "Until the storm passed, and the white winged shadow, nearly tore through the ...."
Chant: Ruth, Ruth, Ruth "I Love You Ruth"
"How can I ever, adequately thank you. For what you have given to me over these past years. I can't.
I came here fearful that people would judge me, harshly, and not accept me for who I am.
What I found instead, was a welcoming community of individuals who challenged me, who taught me, who loved me,
who did everything a friend, a partner, could do, to make me feel comfortable here.
You make it the most special of places, and for me, the experience of working with you, alongside you, for you has been the best of my life.
And I cannot thank you enough for that.