Fauci lays out harsh realities to graduates

Dr. Anthony Fauci told a graduating class of Vanderbilt University seniors to find joy and laughter in a harsh world, a bracing speech that was filled with the realities of young adults trying to succeed in a global pandemic.

Speaking virtually to listeners on YouTube, Facebook and other platforms on Friday, Fauci chose not to use funny anecdotes or clever inspiring phrases. In his 19 minutes of remarks, there were no jokes or cute memories of his youth.

The infectious disease researcher and presidential adviser laid out the difficult times these graduates were scheduled to head into after their commencement services on Saturday.

Fauci said he considered a speech relating his experiences to those of today’s students, “But that does not pass muster this year.”

“No students dating back 100 years … have had this level of disruption to their student years,” Fauci said. “The world has changed dramatically … The adjustments you will have to make in the world are profound.”

Vanderbilt student body president Veer Shah, who was one of several speakers before Fauci’s remarks began, called his fellow graduates “the class of COVID-19.”

Fauci seemed to agree.

Fauci said the graduates’ leadership skills will be important in the future because the world, right now, is such a bleak place. He said COVID-19 “shined a light” on the great failings of our society.

The coronavirus has destroyed minority communities at a faster rate than others. He urged the graduates to remember how hard minority communities have been hit when, someday, we figure out what the “new normal” is.

Fauci talked about the national despair and mentioned “another sad truth,” that we are a divided nation. He said he tried, under the leadership of former President Donald Trump, to persuade the country to follow public health guidelines.

“These restrictions were necessary and ultimately saved lives,” Fauci said.

He said he expected the United States to pull together like the nation did after the Sept. 11, 2001, attacks.

“Sadly, that has not happened,” he said.

He said he was “surprised and frightened” that “so many people believe in alternative facts.” He said he is confronted by people who still believe COVID-19 is “fake news or a hoax.”

He implored the graduates: “Do not allow differences of opinion to lead to outright hostility.”

Fauci suggested the graduates embrace lifelong learning, which he said can produce a feeling of “palpable excitement.”