Hillsdale College hosts 170th annual commencement ceremony

Jordan B. Peterson addressed the 2022 Hillsdale College graduates Saturday at the 170th spring commencement ceremony at the Margot V. Biermann Athletic Center.

Peterson gave an emotion-filled speech to the graduates about the crossroads they are at and how to find a higher aim in life.

Peterson is a clinical psychologist, cultural and political critic, and an author of three books, including the bestseller “12 Rules for Life: An Antidote to Chaos.”

Dr. Larry Arnn, president of Hillsdale College, introduced Peterson to a large crowd of families, graduating and current students, and alumni that nearly filled the center.

Originally from Canada, Peterson has become widely popular over the last number of years, especially on social media.

“He has become the speaker of millions,” Arnn said.

Arnn said it was a unanimous decision on his and the student leadership’s part to bring in Peterson as the speaker.

“It was the most harmonious thing in the world, and we got the person who was top of the list,” Arnn said.

Arnn also spoke to Peterson’s role in the fighting against the so-called "woke" culture.

“He started rebelling against the wokeness that’s like a plague settling on education, and the land, and if it settles there on education, the land will die,” he said, “And he has stood up to that.”

Peterson received a standing ovation and extensive applause upon his introduction by Arnn. He addressed his speech to graduates, encouraging them to embrace faith and a vision for their lives.

“You aim up or down,” Peterson said.

He encouraged the graduates to aim up in their lives and goals, and away from the path of nihilism and hopelessness.

“Faith is the courage to not take that path.”

Peterson also emphasized the importance of the graduates’ impact on their local communities and families.

“You build yourself a community, you sacrifice yourself in the service of other people,” Peterson said, “Not so much because you should, you should, but because that is where meaning is to be found and you need deep meaning to sustain you.”

Peterson said it is important for the graduates, and everyone, to work to solve the problems, both big and small, around them.

“Maybe you are cynical about social institutions, it's like, go fix them,” he said, “It’s an opportunity. You see something broken, fix it.”

Peterson presented the graduates with their crossroad: one of hope or one of despair.

“When you’re at the crossroads and you’re counseled to despair—rise up in courage and see if you can resist it. It’s better for you, and it’s better for the people around you.”

Upon his speech’s conclusion, Peterson was given an honorary doctorate of humane letters.

Hillsdale College sophomore Jonah Apel has been a big fan of Peterson’s for several years.

“When I heard that Jordan Peterson was going to be the commencement speaker, I knew I couldn’t miss it,” Apel said, “I don’t think someone better could have been chosen.”

Apel was impressed that it looked like Peterson wasn’t using notes.

“The speech was really insightful and heartfelt,” he said, “He genuinely seemed to be wrestling with the ideas he talked about.”

Three hundred twenty-nine undergraduates from the Class of 2022 received their degrees. Twenty graduate students received their degrees.

Arnn recognized five faculty members who have retired this year: Barbara Bushey of the Art Department; Ken Hayes of the Physics Department; Jim Stephens of the Philosophy Department, Michael Sweeney of the Accounting Department, who retired in December 2021; Dan York of the Biology Department. Dr. Arnn also recognized the 2022 Professor of the Year — Matthew Gaetano of the History Department — as well as this year’s top academic graduates and outstanding seniors.

This article originally appeared on Hillsdale Daily News: News