By Alex Kuffner, Providence Journal
May 21, 2007
BRISTOL — Some advice for Roger Williams University’s Class of 2007, courtesy of the Farrelly brothers: Don’t rob a bank. Don’t fall asleep behind the wheel. And never drink a whole bottle of vodka, even if it’s the good stuff.
“You will feel it the next day,” Bobby said.
These were just some of the words of wisdom offered up yesterday morning at the university’s 37th annual commencement ceremony by Rhode Island’s own Peter and Bobby Farrelly, the moviemaking partners behind such comedies as Dumb and Dumber, There’s Something About Mary and Fever Pitch.
The Cumberland natives were the university’s choice to give the commencement address to the 930 graduates, a stark contrast to last year’s selection, First Lady Laura Bush. In a rambling 19-minute speech delivered under a tent on the Bristol campus overlooking Mount Hope Bay, the brothers traded barbs with each other, displayed their trademark humor, and even had time to deliver a serious message.
“Our message is, honestly, um, go for broke,” Peter Farrelly told the graduates.
He and his brother addressed the bulk of their speech to the not-so-diligent students in the class with C averages or lower.
“You have been given the greatest gift,” Peter said. “You have nothing to lose.”
He drew on his own experience at Providence College, where he barely maintained a 2.0 grade-point average. He described a conversation he had after graduation with a more successful classmate from La Salle Academy, the Providence parochial school he attended before college.
“He said, ‘You’re so lucky that you had the opportunity to fail,’ ” Peter said.
Bobby interjected. “And you took advantage of it.”
Because the brothers had low expectations, they were able to take a chance and try their hand at movies. It took nine years of scraping by in Hollywood before they made Dumb and Dumber, their first movie, in 1994.
“You can go in any direction you want,” Peter said. “So do the craziest thing. The thing closest to your heart. The thing you want to do more than anything.”
The brothers were given honorary doctorates of fine arts during yesterday’s ceremony.
“Congratulations, Doctors Farrelly,” university President Roy J. Nirschel said with a chuckle after giving them their framed certificates.
It was a year of firsts for the commencement ceremony — the first time two people had delivered the commencement speech together, and the first time Nirschel was given a standing ovation for his singing.
Following a tradition he started in his inaugural address to the graduates six years ago, he donned sunglasses and sang with little skill but a lot of enthusiasm. This year’s choice was “Glamorous,” by Fergie of the Black Eyed Peas. Chorus: “The glamorous/The glamorous, glamorous/By the glamorous, oh the flossy flossy.”
Perhaps the president was inspired by the Farrelly brothers’ appearance. As he sang the final words, Nirschel was greeted with cheers and applause.
Also for the first time, the university gave an award to students who best embodied the values of the university, such as a love of learning and a commitment to community service. A dozen students were given the President’s Core Values Medallion, including Navy medic John Peter Sofrano, who returned in November from the most recent of four tours in Iraq, and Jeffrey Delgado, a business major with multiple sclerosis who must use a wheelchair.
The ceremony was capped by the Farrellys’ announcement that they would randomly choose a member of the senior class to appear in their latest film, The Heartbreak Kid. The movie, starring Ben Stiller, is to be released in October, and the brothers said they would have to reshoot scenes this week.
They selected Katie Rebecca Francisconi, surely the only student in the country to get a film appearance as a graduation gift. The Farrellys said they’d fly her to Los Angeles on Wednesday or Thursday so she could be an extra in their film.
“She’ll be on a beach with Ben Stiller,” Peter said.
“Bring a bathing suit,” Bobby added.
To listen to President Nirschel's speech, click here. To hear the Farrelly brothers' speech, click here.