Barnard College’s outgoing president Judith Shapiro, speaking at the school’s commencement ceremonies, quoted from the Jewish philosopher Hillel during her remarks.

President Judith Shapiro, whose speech at Commencement this year comes in the shadow of her announcement that she will resign in the spring of 2008, quoted the philosopher Hillel, who asked: “If I am not for myself, then who will be for me? If I am only for myself, then who am I? And If not now, when?”

“Don’t postpone, … but now is by definition a moving target,” Schapiro said. “So addressing Hillel’s question is a lifelong challenge.”

Also speaking at the event were playwright, Anna Deavere Smith, who used her acting chops to portray monologues from prominent Barnard alumnae. Student body president, Eman Bataineh, said during her speech, “Women are expected to shrink, to fade into the wallpaper. I had a problem with that. So did Barnard.”