High School Principal Admits to ‘Borrowing' Commencement Speech

A Pennsylvania principal says he should have publicly acknowledged much of his graduation speech was borrowed from writer David Foster Wallace.

Garden Spot High School principal Matt Sanger says he changed a few references to better resonate with the local audience. He addressed graduates Friday night in New Holland.
 
Lancaster Newspapers examined a transcript and estimated about 85 percent of Sanger's material came from a speech Wallace gave in 2005.

Sanger tells the newspaper that he found Wallace's words inspirational and "should have probably cited'' the author in his remarks.
 
The novelist originally gave his address at Kenyon College's commencement. It was later turned into a book called "This Is Water.'' Wallace, who also wrote "Infinite Jest,'' died in 2008.

Copyright AP - Associated Press
Contact Us