Senior Speaker: Legal Studies

A message from the College of Social and Behavioral Sciences:

Each year, our graduating students in every major select a student to speak on behalf of their area of study. Because we are a large college, the time allotted to our ceremony does not allow for each speaker to appear on stage. However, these speeches have been recorded for your viewing pleasure. 

At its core, our College supports open and free inquiry and debate about the most weighty and consequential subjects that face us all. Each student was given a minute to speak on whatever topic they think will be meaningful to their peers. Some of the contributions are lighthearted, others are serious, and some may inspire some people and conflict with the values and beliefs of others. But that is the nature of free inquiry and debate: it should challenge us and make us think. We are proud of every one of our graduates, whether or not we agree with the views they express here. 

Transcript: 

Dear fellow graduates,

Congratulations and welcome to the graduation of the Class of 2025! You should be incredibly proud of yourselves for being here today. Before I begin, though, I have a confession to make—my parents, who are here in the audience, have no idea that I’m speaking today. I wanted to surprise them with this, as I am their first (and only) child, and this graduation today is as much of a source of pride for myself as it is for them. I could not be here today without them, the same way none of you could have been here today without your parents, guardians, and caretakers. So, first and foremost, I’d like to say thank you to those people in our lives, wherever they may be.

Now, when we first entered the Legal Studies program here at UMass, many of us probably thought we were simply learning about what lawyers do; a degree for the Pre-Law track and for those of us bound to go to law school. But what we've discovered is something far more profound: the law isn't just for lawyers – it's the language of justice and a tool that belongs to all of us. Think about it. In our classes, we learned that knowing your rights changes how you move throughout the world. We saw how understanding local ordinances helps communities advocate for better housing. We discovered how knowledge of employment law protects workers, how environmental regulations empower citizens to defend their neighborhoods, and how civil rights law gives voice to the marginalized.

Some of us will become lawyers, yes. But others will be teachers explaining constitutional rights to their students, business leaders ensuring ethical practices, nonprofit workers helping immigrants navigate complex systems, or community organizers empowering neighborhoods to fight for change. Each of us now carries something powerful: the ability to decode the rules that shape our society and teach that understanding to others.

This knowledge is meant to be shared, not hoarded. When more people understand their rights and responsibilities, when more voices can participate in legal discourse, when more communities can advocate for themselves – that's when real change happens. We've seen throughout history that transformation rarely comes from lawyers alone, but from informed citizens who understand the law well enough to challenge it, shape it, and make it better.

As we leave here today, remember: we aren't just graduates with a degree in Legal Studies. We are the translators of justice, the bridges between legal institutions and our communities, and the proof that understanding the law can unite people in the pursuit of a more equitable society.

Now, more than ever, we must use this knowledge to demystify the unknowns of the world for our friends and family, foster understanding through shared perspectives and experiences, and remain unwavering in holding public figures accountable when they betray the trust and power gifted to them. The law belongs to all of us – and now, we have the knowledge to ensure others understand that too.

Congratulations, Class of 2025!