Judge Thomas Buergenthal to Speak at St. Edward's University Graduation

St. Edward's University will confer 670 degrees during the university's 123rd commencement ceremony at 10 a.m. on Saturday, May 9 at the Frank Erwin Center, 1701 Red River. Judge Thomas Buergenthal, the American judge on the United Nations’ International Court of Justice, will deliver the keynote address and will be recognized with an honorary degree.
Judge Buergenthal was nominated to the court by the United States and elected by the U.N. General Assembly and the Security Council. He also worked on the three-member U.N. Truth Commission for El Salvador and is the first American to be elected to the U.N. Human Rights Committee. Throughout his career he has been a leading advocate of human rights in international forums.

At the age of 10, Judge Buergenthal and his parents were deported to the Auschwitz concentration camp by the Nazis. As the Soviet troops advanced in January 1945, Judge Buergenthal and other prisoners were forced on a death march to the Sachsenhausen concentration camp in Germany. Judge Buergenthal was one of only three children who survived that death march. He was freed from the concentration camp in April 1945. That experience created in him a passion for human rights that has driven his career.
In 1951, Judge Buergenthal emigrated to the United States where he worked his way through Bethany College and subsequently received a law degree from New York University and his master’s and doctorate degrees in international law from Harvard University. He has taught at the law schools of the State University of New York at Buffalo, the University of Texas, American University, Emory University, and George Washington University.

Judge Buergenthal’s publications have carved out new areas in education for human rights from elementary through law school and his decisions on both the Inter-American Court and the World Court have contributed to major advances in human rights and international law. His most recent book published in April of this year is entitled A Lucky Child and recounts how he survived a forced labor camp, a death march, and two concentration camps all before he was 12 years old.

A Glimpse of the May 2009 Graduates

St. Edward's University officials will confer approximately 644 degrees this spring. Degree distribution is as follows:

Matthew Hines, of Conroe, Texas, will deliver the valedictory address. Hines will graduate summa cum laude with a Bachelor of Arts in English Writing and Rhetoric, and Religious Studies. An Honors student, he has served in a variety of campus roles including Teaching Assistant, Student Ambassador and member of the University Jazz Band. He also performs with his band, The Eastern Sea.

Graduation Information for Students and Parents

Graduates should plan to meet at the Frank Erwin Center in the Lone Star Room between 9 and 9:30 a.m. Use the Red River Street entrance and follow the signs to the Reception Hall for lining up. Ushers will be available to direct the graduates. At 9:30 a.m., graduates will start assembling into ranks.

Only graduates and faculty members will be seated in the chairs on the floor. Guests in wheelchairs should enter through the Red River Street entrance where ushers will assist them to the elevator, and to the Arena Level.
After the ceremony, graduates should arrange to meet with their family and friends outside the Frank Erwin Center on the north end by the flagpoles.