ACTIVITIES OF SECRETARY-GENERAL IN RHODE ISLAND, 27-28 MAY

Secretary-General Kofi Annan travelled to Providence, Rhode Island, on Sunday afternoon, 27 May, to receive a Doctor of Laws degree honoris causa awarded to him by Brown University, in recognition of his contribution to world peace.  

On Sunday evening he attended a dinner at President’s House offered by the Interim President of the University, Sheila Blumstein, for the honorary degree recipients.  The dinner was attended by prominent members of the Brown University community, including the Chancellor, Fellows and Trustees of the University, senior faculty and administration, and the President-elect of the University, Ruth Simmonds.

On Monday, Memorial Day, the Secretary-General participated in the main University commencement exercise, after which he returned to New York.  In keeping with the tradition of Brown University, none of the honorary degree recipients spoke at the main commencement exercise.

In addition to the Secretary-General, other honorary degree recipients were:  former United States Secretary of State Madeleine Albright; Sheila E. Blumstein, Interim President of Brown University; physicist Demetrios Christodoulou; Oskar Eustis, Artistic Director of Trinity Repertory Company; Margaret H. Marshall, Chief Justice of the Massachusetts Supreme Judicial Court; scientist Lorrin A. Riggs; author Philip Roth, and Lawrence M. Small, Secretary of the Smithsonian Institution.