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Larry Bird and Steven Spielberg: Honored at Boston University
Former Boston Celtics basketball player Larry Bird and renowned film director Steven Spielberg were felicitated on Sunday at Boston University with honorary degrees.
Larry Bird, who played for the Celtics for thirteen seasons and enshrined in basketball's Hall of Fame, is presently president of basketball operations for the Indiana Pacers.
Steven Spielberg has made classic movies namely "Jaws" and "Raiders of the Lost Ark." He presently directed "Indiana Jones and the Kingdom of the Crystal Skull."
U.S. Rep. Michael Capuano of Massachusetts delivered the commencement address at the school's 136th graduation and received an honorary doctor of laws degree. He requested the graduates to help improve the world.
Capuano remarked,"You can get a job, climb the ladder of success, make money and build a very comfortable life for yourselves. But if that is all you do with your life, you will not feel fulfilled," "You will always know you did not challenge your intellect to improve society. You did not use your voice to protest injustice. You will pass through this life without leaving much of wake behind you."
The university is also honoring Zhang Yimou, the Chinese filmmaker who produced the opening and closing ceremonies at the Beijing Olympics, with an honorary degree. According to the university, he did not attend the commencement ceremonies and will receive his degree at another time.
Last week University President Robert Brown remarked that Zhang's films "have offered worldwide audiences both a perspective on the people and culture of China ... and a window into universal aspects of human nature and yearning."
Zhang will start shooting for a new movie in late May or June. Last month his assistant told the reporters of a popular news agency thereby marking the director's first project since designing the Beijing Olympics ceremonies.
The opening ceremony won a Peabody Award for excellence in electronic media. |