So Schoenfeld and Geldof walk into Studio B…

So you’re wanting the back story on Bob Geldof’s visit to Vanderbilt? The celebrity demands? The flights from the paparazzi? The trashed hotel rooms?

Okay, nothing like that happened. They don’t call him Sir Bob Geldof for nothing - from all reports he was the most gracious, down-to-earth and intellectually engaged rockstar I’ve ever almost met.

He arrived in town Wednesday evening and dined at Sunset Grill. Was psyched to hear The Commodores were playing The PARTY, but arrived a bit too late and knackered to catch the show. Thursday of course he spoke to us. Before taking the stage he personally thanked each of the students who had just delivered prayers and remarks and commented on what he liked and respected about what they each said. Next came his speech, which we all know rocked.

And then things got fun. Geldof and manager wanted to see some sites in  our fair city before jetting back to London. Had never been here! Imagine that. Who better to take them than unabashed rock-and-roll fantatic Vice Chancellor for Public Affairs Mike Schoenfeld.

So Schoenfeld, Geldof and his manager pile in the car for a quick drive around. Start off where we all start off with out of town guests, The Parthenon, which draws incredulous jokes and then admiration from the Boomtown Rat. Head next to Music Row, which continues to be not what anyone pictures -  no wandering troubadours, mostly a bunch of offices. But then they happen upon RCA’s Studio B.

Studio B! Elvis recorded there! Geldof wants in.

Usually you need tickets for Studio B. But usually you’re not with Bob Geldof. Schoenfeld opens the door - makes some intros and in they go. Geldof and manager are TICKLED PINK. Soaking it all up, taking it all in. Mugging for the camera, taking photos like tourists, digging the vibe, admiring the old school equipment. Then Geldof sees the piano - the one Jerry Lee Lewis and others played on - and starts playing. Oh Yes He Did.

Around this time, a real tour group comes in, and some take a look through the studio window. “Hey isn’t that…” “Well he looks like a rockstar…” “Wait a minute that’s Bob Geldof!”

More pictures. Autographs. Aspiring musicians offering Geldof their CDs. Piano playing. Grins all around. Wow.

Highlight of the trip, Geldof said. That and talking to us, of course.

Phew. I do loves me a celebrity story (even when it’s secondhand).

On happiness, and graduation

The focus of Chancellor Zeppos’ remarks to graduating students today was the pursuit of happiness - however they may define it.

“Lead lives filled with joy. Start that immediately,” he said.

I am definitely down with that. Read Jim Patterson’s well-done story (as usual, Jim delivered insightful and pithy copy in record time, he’s a wizard) on the remarks and ceremony.

Listen to the audio of Zeppos’ remarks.

Of note:

• The degrees are still being conferred as we speak, but below are some fantastic photos by our photographer John Russell. The clever photo crew this year for the first time strapped a still camera high atop the jumbotron screen, outfitted with a wide angle lens and operated remotely, to give us a very big picture of the event. I’ll share those shots once the camera is back on the ground.
• Archived video will be up later today. Approximately 530 600 people tuned into the live Web stream of the video today - a record breaking number for us.
• The festivities will continue throughout the day, with the individual colleges’ ceremonies, the Strawberries and Champagne celebration, and the numerous private parties that will ensue around town.
• Kudos to Commencement Queen Kim Fuller, Plant Ops Czar Don Hughes and their massive team of staff and volunteers for pulling off another truly stellar ceremony.

Best, best, best wishes, Class of 2008.

Commencement day underway

Commencement 2008 is underway! Hard to believe another year has gone by already, seems like just yesterday we were here for this wonderful ceremony. Families and friends have taken their seats, the buglers are sounding and the student procession is processing.  Watch live streaming video (Real Player) or Windows Media.

Geldof video not available

For those of you looking here for the Geldof video, it is no longer available. I apologize.

Vote for Peabloggy

The clever, substantive and diverse Peabody College blog, Peabloggy, is up for an ED in ‘08 best education blog of the year award. Vote for Peabloggy! Ballot box closes May 14.

World’s best troublemaker, Geldof, urges revolution

Bob Geldof delivered a fantastic Senior Day speech at Vanderbilt today - hitting all the right notes of humor, empathy and calls to action. Remarkable once again to be on this campus and hear from someone who is knee deep in global politics sharing his views and urging us to join him in addressing the most important issues facing humankind.

Photos by Steve Green below.
My Twitter tweets about it here.

Memorable quotes:

On revolution: “The American revolution isn’t over - it continues and it must continue. Like it or not, you are the new revolutionaries.”

On changing the world: “Be unreasonable - demand stuff of the world and if they don’t do it change the world to suit those demands.”

On letting graduating seniors know it’s time to grow up: “The point is today its (being children) over for you.”

On democracy: “Our version of freedom is just one among many.”

On our moral imperative to fight poverty: “To die of want in a world of surplus is not only intellectually absurd it’s morally repulsive.”

On college: “I mainly didn’t go to college because I thought you had to wear one of those bloody awful Simon and Garfunkel scarves.”

On what first piqued his interest in Africa: “Frankly as it was the early 60s and Catholic Ireland, there was no chance of ever sleeping with a girl… so luckily there was National Geographic. I fell in love with these women.”

On rock and roll: “Over this crackly radio came the seductive whisperings of other worlds, universes of possibilities, things that could happen in your life.”

Senior Day underway

Blogging to you this morning from the press riser in Memorial Gym, as parents and soon-to-be graduates filter in for this morning’s Senior Class Day events featuring humanitarian and pop star Bob Geldof. If you’re not going to be here, you can watch the event live at www.vanderbilt.edu or www.vanderbilt.edu/news. For a full schedule of Commencement events, go here.

This is my favorite time of the year at Vanderbilt - we really do Commencement right. Things got underway last night at The PARTY, which featured the Commodores and also the musical stylings of Chancellor Zeppos on guitar. Who knew? Photos below by our own humanitarian and pop star, university photographer Steve Green.

Senior Day Geldof speech moving to Memorial Gym

Soon-to-depart Vice Chancellor Mike Schoenfeld is known for staring steely eyed at impending storms on the morns of our Senior Day and Commencement events, refusing to move the events for potential rain despite the wailing and gnashing of teeth that ensued from us, his trusty staff. And he was always right. But this year, even the mighty Schoenfeld is bowing to the even more mighty Mother Nature, who has made very clear her plans to drench Nashville tomorrow precisely during Bob Geldof’s speech at Senior Day. All this to say the event is moving to Memorial Gym. Commencement is still set to be outside Friday on Alumni Lawn. Get detailed information about the Senior Day and Commencement schedule here.

New provost

Chancellor Nick Zeppos today announced that Richard McCarty, dean of the College of Arts and Science, will take Zeppos’ place as provost, a spot he vacated when becoming chancellor. McCarty has been at the helm of A&S for the past seven years; Executive Dean Carolyn Dever will take over while the search is underway for his permanent replacement. Congratulations, Provost McCarty!

Best of the Best

Vanderbilt’s own InsideVandy has been recognized as one of the best student newspaper Web sites in the country. 10,000words.net - where journalism and technology meet! - praised our student site for its “massive amounts of content”: video, podcasts, slideshows and blogs, with a special shout out for the new students’ section. Way to go!