School of General Studies Class Day, Columbia Commencement 2010

It has come to our attention that a portion of our Valedictorian's remarks at this years School of General Studies Class Day was taken from a comedy routine by Patton Oswalt. As an institution of higher learning that places a core value on respect for the works of others, we were surprised and disappointed to have learned of this matter today. Columbia University and the School of General Studies do not condone or permit the use of someone else's work without proper citation. The student speaker has appropriately issued an apology to his classmates and to Mr. Oswalt for failing to provide such attribution.

Peter J. Awn
Dean
Columbia University School of General Studies

The School of General Studies of Columbia University is a liberal arts college in the United States created specifically for students with nontraditional backgrounds seeking a rigorous, traditional, Ivy League undergraduate degree full- or part-time. GS students take the same courses, with the same faculty, and earn the same degree as all other Columbia undergraduates. This years class of 230 graduating seniors participated in its Class Day ceremony on May 16 where the schools valedictory was delivered. Two days later they joined some 12,000 other new Columbia graduates at the Universitys main commencement exercises which do not include student or guest speakers.

Columbia Commencement 2010
Full length version
Class Day speaker: Jacques Pépin

Highlights: rendition of the national anthem by Lena Park '10 (1:16), Pres. Bollinger (8:05), Jacques Pepin (17:47), valedictorian Brian Corman (33:56), presentation of graduates (46:22).

Category:

Education

Tags:

• education
• columbia university
• GS
• school of general studies
• lena park
• commencement

[meanmark1]

fuck this chump.......but I'm sure he'll be highly successful because as we know in this country the liars, cheats, and shitheads always seem to prosper.  congrats Columbia for spawning more scum that will take the country down a darker path of ruin.

GO FORTH AND DIE - watch?v=W21dBbtcfjk

[kwadade]

Corman's speech starts at 34:33. The plagiarized portion begins at 38:36

[muhammadzahmad]

indeed a great speech!!!!

[TheBachedPotato]

What a surprise, an ivy league student standing on the shoulders of somebody else to get by. BIG FUCKING SURPRISE.

(I know I ended with a preposition so don't even try to point that out...trolls...)

[thegreeensky]

nice speech.. nice video...

[crookedfinger13]

@minami935 Thank you for sharing.

[TheWhiskeyfist]

its easy to tell he never experienced the story he talked about. he grads from columbia and gets caught for plagerism... building leaders it seems

[Goatmon]

@allen91315 The only problem with this, is how to work in that citation into a speech without effectively ruining the effect of the joke. It can be pretty hard to do this if you aren't a pretty spiffy writer.

[jamecolte]

Great speaking

[saijai587]

I like Coumbia university