Video: Kaye urges grads to embrace America’s history

Harvey J. Kaye, a University of Wisconsin-Green Bay professor of Democracy and Justice Studies with a national reputation as an author, historian, and political analyst, drew a standing ovation at the close of his commencement address to the university’s December 2015 graduating class.

Kaye addressed a capacity audience of more than 2,000 students, friends, families, faculty and staff Dec. 19 at UW-Green Bay’s Weidner Center for the Performing Arts. He urged graduates to do their patriotic part to rediscover American democracy and make the nation “freer, more equal, and more democratic than ever before.”

A proud progressive activist, Kaye cited a series of challenges facing America today but said they are hardly unprecedented. “Bluntly put,” he advised the graduates, “It is time for you to make history as our greatest generations have made history.”