Salutatorian Madeleine Murnick, a classics major from Washington, D.C., delivered the Latin salutatory address, Princeton’s oldest student honor. In the days when the entire Commencement ceremony was conducted in Latin, the salutatio was a formal, serious address. It has evolved to become a farewell to Princeton campus life with humorous tributes and recollections.
In English
Given in the Academic Assembly of Princeton University on the 26th of May
In the year 2026
In the 279th Year of the University
Welcome everyone! Welcome fellow classmates! Welcome parents, families, and dear friends, to whom we offer the greatest thanks!
Today we celebrate the Great Class of 2026. Ever since we arrived at Princeton, our class has been notorious for its size. We were and are to date the largest class at this University, which makes this ceremony historic. But we did not only expand the University in number. We also watched the campus grow through countless building projects.
At times, we ran to class among all the construction with the skill of ancient sailors navigating between Scylla and Charybdis. We navigated between a muddy pit called “Hobson College” and a pile of gray rocks called “The Art Museum” to travel from Poe Field to East Pyne Hall.
Alas! What’s worse, our unreliable paths shifted their places all the time. Every day the river changed. It was like a video game: each time we mastered one level, we were suddenly raised to the next. Meanwhile, personal electric vehicles flew into our way, and on each level they evolved into new shapes to escape campus bans.
But, in all seriousness: we have witnessed a time of change and we are the stronger for it. Now, as we face this transition, I think the poet Ovid’s words are fitting: “All changes, nothing dies.” Sometimes, change inspires fear. At other times, excitement. But, today, as long as we remember that the most precious things we gained here — our friendships, memories, and wisdom — will stay with us, then there is no reason to be afraid.
Goodbye problem sets and papers and long nights without sleep! Goodbye proclamations of the end of circulation in the library! Goodbye foxes and raccoons, our reliable animal companions! Goodbye Small World and sweet Bent Spoon! Goodbye distinguished councils on eating and drinking of Prospect Avenue! At some point, we will miss you all.
Great Class of 2026, let us celebrate one another, because no one can achieve anything of importance alone. I feel very lucky to be able to call you classmates and friends. Congratulations!
In Latin
Habita in Comitiis Academicis Princetoniae ante diem vii Kalendas Iunias
Anno MMXXVI
Anno Academiae CCLXXIX
Salvete omnes! Salvete commilitones! Salvete parentes, familiae et amici carissimi, quibus maximas gratias agimus!
Magnam cohortem anni MMXXVI hodie celebramus. Ubi Princetoniam advenimus, nostra cohors pro magnitudine sua famosa erat. Fuimus vel adhuc sumus ingentissima cohors huius Academiae, quapropter haec caerimonia historica est. Sed non solum Academiam numero auximus, sed etiam campum innumeris aedificationibus crescere spectabamus.
Interdum tali sollertia ad scholam inter tantas constructiones cucurrerunt quali nautae antiqui inter Scyllam et Charybdim navigaverunt. Inter fossam lutosam nomine Collegii Hobsonis et lapidum canorum acervum nomine Musei Artis navigabamus, ut a campo Po ad Atrium Pinum Euri transeamus.
Eheu! Quod peius est, viae infideles continue loco suo se movebant. Cottidie flumen mutabat. Similiter ludo commentico: ubi unum gradum vicimus, subito ad secundum elevabamur. Praeterea privata vehicula electrica contra nos volabant, quae interdicta evitandi causa omni gradu novam in formam evolvebant.
Sed serio: tempus mutationis testati sumus ex quo fortiores sumus. Nunc cum hanc transitionem consideremus, puto illud poetae Ovidii aptum esse afferendo: “omnia mutantur, nihil interit.” Mutatio modo metum inspirat, modo felicitatem. Sed hodie si res pretiosissimas hic acquisitas, scilicet amicitias, memorias et sapientiam, nobiscum futuras esse recordamur, causa timendi nobis non est.
Valete collectiones problematorum atque tractatus et longae insomnes noctes! Valete proclamationes finis circulationis librariae! Valete Vulpes et Procyones Lotores, comites bestiales fideles! Valete Parve Munde, dulce Cochlear Flexum! Valete concilia honorifica edendi bibendique in Via Prospecta! Aliquo tempore vos omnes desiderabimus.
Magna cohors anni MMXXVI, nos invicem celebremus, cum nemo solus aliquid momenti efficere possit. Felicissimam me puto quod vos socios amicosque vocare possim. Gratulationes vobis offero!
