BREAKING NEWS: Paul McCartney to receive honorary degree from Yale today

(5/26/2008) The Yale Daily News reports Paul McCartney will receive an honorary degree from the university at 10:30 A.M. ET today at the commencement ceremony at the University's Old Campus. The paper reported McCartney was spotted several times around the area, and was at Sunday night's dinner at the Yale Center for British Art. The New Haven Register printed a picture of McCartney and Tony Blair outside the British Center for the Arts at Yale and reported that Paul was seen touring a downtown art gallery and attending a dinner with Yale dignitaries. Sources told the publication he would be honored at the commencement ceremony on Monday, which begins at 10:30 a.m. ceremony on the Old Campus.

Curiously, former British Prime Minister Tony Blair mentioned Paul in his Class Day speech Sunday

Curiously, former British Prime Minister Tony Blair mentioned Paul in his Class Day speech Sunday.

“Be prepared to fail as well as to succeed, and realize it is failure, not success, that defines character. Sir Paul McCartney reminded me that the first record company the Beatles approached rejected them as a band no one would want to listen to,” Blair told the students.

The paper says honorary degrees are awarded by the Yale Corporation, the University’s governing body, based on the recommendations of a committee comprised of Corporation members, faculty and alumni. The identities of the recipients are not traditionally revealed in advance.

Asked to comment by the paper, Yale President Richard Levin, in an e-mail, said, “Here’s one comment: Yesterday … all my troubles seemed so far away. Now it seems as though they're here to stay. Oh, I believe in yesterday. Or perhaps another, relative to the Sir Paul sightings: 'Here, There and Everywhere.'”

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Mary Ellen Barbarito sent us this note:

While I was at Mohegan Sun seeing Billy Joel in concert (Mark Rivera was wearing a Beatles Help pin and Billy Joel sang "A Hard Day's Night) I missed the news that Paul was in New Haven around the Yale campus. The media reports that Paul will get an honorary degree today. This is usually a closely guarded secret (I know I work at Yale) but seeing Paul out and about with Tony Blair sort of gave it away .

- WTNH in New Haven (with video report): Report: Paul McCartney to receive honorary degree from Yale

New Haven Register: Sir Paul visits Yale museum, will receive honorary degree


Commencement is scheduled to begin at 10:30 a.m. on the Old Campus.