Mondale receives honorary doctorate
Photo: Tim Rummelhoff / courtesy of the University of Minnesota Law School
Former Vice President Walter F. Mondale receives the Diploma and the Ring from Rector Dag
Rune Olsen, the University of Bergen, in a celebration at the University of Minnesota.
Molly Jones
Norwegian American Weekly
The University of Bergen awarded Walter F. Mondale an honorary doctorate on October 2 as part of a special honorary doctor promotion. The ceremony was held in conjunction with the opening of the new University Assembly Hall.
Author Jon Fosse, professor Helga Nowotny, and patron of the arts Trond Mohn also received honorary doctorates at the ceremony, which is the highest honor the University of Bergen can give a person who is not employed by the university.
Mondale served as Minnesota Senator from 1964-1976 and Vice President under Jimmy Carter from 1977-1981 and later worked as a lawyer. The University of Bergen is honoring the Norwegian American for his support of civil liberties and human rights.
“Walter Mondale believes that ensuring human rights is the best way to ensure a country’s development and security. He has the ability to find practical political solutions where difficult conflicts of interest might exist,” says Dag Rune Olsen, Rector of the University of Bergen.
In addition, the university notes that Mondale is actively engaged in the close cooperation between his alma mater, the University of Minnesota Law School, and the Faculty of Law at the University of Bergen.
Mondale could not be present at the ceremony, but Norwegian diplomat and politician Sverre Mauritzen accepted the award on his behalf.
Mauritzen hosted Mondale during his vice presidential visit to Fjærland in 1979, and the two have kept in touch over the years.
“He is deeply grateful for the award and the ability to cooperate with the Faculty of Law at the University of Bergen,” said Mauritzen at the award ceremony.
During the first week of November, both Mondale and Mauritzen were present at the International Humanitarian Law Workshop, held at the University of Minnesota.
This article originally appeared in the Nov. 20, 2015, issue of the Norwegian American Weekly. To subscribe, visit SUBSCRIBE or call us at (206) 784-4617.
