<p>At the end of a day in which Brown’s Class of 2012 celebrated new beginnings, two Brown graduates — John R. Gayton (center) of Bettendorf, Iowa, and Robert M. Schlesinger III of Medfield, Mass. — were commissioned into the U.S. Marine Corps.</p>

Common ground:
Two seniors — John R. Gayton (center) of Bettendorf, Iowa, and Robert M. Schlesinger III of Medfield, Mass. — were commissioned as second lieutenants in the United States Marines Corps as part of the Platoon Leaders Course on Sunday, May 27, 2012. Capt. Randy Parks, USMC, presided over the commissioning ceremony, and Dean of the College Katherine Bergeron offered remarks. Gayton concentrated in international relations with a focus on global security; Schlesinger was an economics concentrator.  The ceremony took place on Starr Plaza, Thayer St., following the University’s 244th Commencement ceremonies.
Credit: Frank Mullin/Brown University