Tommie of the Year Ben Kessler on Selfishness

As if the University of St. Thomas had not already marginalized enough of its students, faculty and staff in 2007, and was was not already steeped in enough negative press, "Tommie of the Year" and seminarian Ben Kessler decided to use his address to his graduating class of 2007 as a soapbox to express his own, largely negative beliefs, rather than congratulating students for their achievments. Most students stirred quietly, gasping at certain statements, a few voiced their opinions and booed, some stood up and left, and some cried.

I will forgo making any statements about the speech, and whether or not it was appropriate, because I was not present, and have not been present for much of this very divisive semester at UST. I will, however, provide a major excerpt and some links for those who would like to learn more about what was said, and how the University community in particular and the Twin Cities in general are responding to the speech.



The beginning of Kessler's speech is the most controversial:

“The question remains: Is travelling and staying with an unmarried partner best for students, faculty, staff, and the rest of the St Thomas community? No. It is selfish. Again, right or wrong, it is choosing my own good – my goods – instead of the community’s goods. Students become confused, faculty and staff become scandalised, and the good of the St Thomas community becomes endangered, just because of the happiness of one or two people.

“What in society is selfish, some may ask? I would point to the common practice of birth control. Is using the pill good for the female, the male, and the long-term health of the relationship? No. Birth control is not good for the female, the male, or the long-term health of the relationship.

“Birth control is selfish. We all make selfish choices. I am no different in this. We all do. You can ask my parents, you can ask my friends, you can ask my rector, who sit with you today. I also make selfish choices. I am no different. I am no different.

“Regardless of the past…we must change for the future. We must stop making selfish choices. If we continue to make selfish choices, each one of us will be figuratively throwing food, climbing on tables, and being escorted out by the St. Paul police.

“My friends, please do not despair on this graduation day. This is not a day to despair. First of all, look at these graduates in front of us. Look at this impressive group of young people sitting in front of me. Second, graduations are for hope, they are not for despair. And I’m not here to bring you despair. I’m here to bring you hope.”

Paradoxically, it seems quite selfish of Ben to use the graduation speech as a platform to belch out his own selfish message, failing to bring most students, parents, faculty, staff, friends, and community members any bit of hope. I am despairing that these sorts of events will drive UST nose first into the dirt, as their hardline conservative Catholic image becomes more and more unattractive to donors, students, parents, faculty and staff.

Star Tribune article
Video recording of speech
Bulletin article: Dease's apology