Cousens, a 1987 UPS graduate and international peace advocate, told the crowd at Baker Stadium in Tacoma that her friends advised to keep her remarks “light, and, if I was really smart, quote (talk show host and comedian) Jon Stewart.”

The line drew laughter, but her speech leading up to it was anything but breezy, as she touched on issues of global warming, building peace in the Balkans and the Iraq war.

Cousens’ remarks were part of the university’s 115th commencement ceremony. Moms were on the mind, garnering at least one mention. So, too, was the weather, which cleared up for a time Sunday to make way for some sunlight.

“Members of the Class of 2007,” university President Ronald Thomas said light-heartedly, “I think it is fair to say the sun shines upon you.”

In contrast, remarks by Cousens and class speaker Amy Thompson struck a rather serious tone, as the women warned of the challenges that will face the nearly 700 graduates.

Thompson told her classmates they were privileged to have graduated from college, and because of that have a responsibility to nurture democracy, themselves and the environment.

“Be a leader for future generations on global warming awareness and activism,” she said.

She implored her fellow graduates to “never blindly just pay your taxes,” and to instead learn about government programs such as Social Security.

She also promoted establishing fiscal responsibility in government spending, saying “we could be the generation to do it.”

Cousens sounded a similar note, telling the students to vote and to “expect a lot of the people you put in office.”

In the end, she quoted part of Stewart’s own commencement address, which the Comedy Central star delivered in 2004 at his alma mater, telling students at the College of William and Mary: “I don’t really know to put this, so I’ll be blunt. We broke it,” humorously referring the problems facing the world.

Ending on a more positive message, Cousens told the crowd that “every moment in history is open, and this one no less.”

Four Honorary doctorates

The University of Puget Sound awarded four honorary doctorate degrees to these people during its 2007 commencement ceremony Sunday:

Elizabeth Cousens, a 1987 UPS graduate, is vice president of the International Peace Academy in New York, where she leads the group’s policies related to United Nations reform, peace building and global crisis management. She works with the U.N. and other agencies to promote peace throughout the world. Cousens has a doctorate in international relations from Oxford University, which she attended after UPS. She delivered Sunday’s commencement address.

David Nicandri is the director of the Washington State Historical Society, which includes the Washington State History Museum in downtown Tacoma. He achieved national renown for his work on the National Council for the Lewis and Clark Bicentennial. Before becoming the historical society director in 1987, Nicandri was the State Capital Museum’s curator and served on the Tumwater City Council.

Kathleen Ross is the founding president of Heritage University, which marked its 25th anniversary this month. The school, on the Yakama Indian Reservation in Toppenish, has grown from 82 to more than 1,300 students since its 1982 opening. Ross founded the university after Fort Wright College closed its Toppenish outreach program.

Sheila Evans Widnall, a Tacoma native, served as secretary of the Air Force from 1993 to 1997. She was the first woman to lead a military branch. Evans Widnall was also the first woman to chair the faculty at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology, where she’s worked for more than 30 years. She’s internationally known for her work in fluid dynamics, particularly aircraft turbulence and spiraling air flows.