LIMBAUGH TO SEMO GRADS: `DON'T CHEAT'

U.S. District Judge Stephen N. Limbaugh Sr. advised Southeast Missouri State University graduates Saturday not to cheat in their future endeavors.

"When you cheat, somebody else suffers," Limbaugh said in his commencement address to the university's 1993 graduating class.

The graduating class comprised 705 undergraduates and 49 graduate students. Debra A. Nation-Hess of Chaffee and Shannon M. Reed of Crystal City led the class of undergraduates, becoming only the 51st and 52nd students in Southeast's history to graduate with perfect 4.0 grade point averages.

About 7,500 people, including the graduates and university personnel, crowded into the Show Me Center for the spring commencement.

For university President Kala Stroup, Saturday's commencement was special. Her son, Chandler, was among those graduating.

Limbaugh said that as a federal judge, it's his duty "to punish people who lie and cheat." He said his court docket "is filled with persons accused of cheating."

Federal laws, he said, carry stiff penalties for "white collar" crimes. Limbaugh said he has little sympathy for educated persons who violate the law by cheating.

He told the graduates, "It is tough and competitive out there, but you can succeed without being greedy."

A 1950 graduate of Southeast, Limbaugh urged the graduates to support their alma mater, as well as civic, cultural and charitable institutions.

The former Cape Girardeau attorney, who was appointed to the federal bench in 1983, said "liberty and freedom" have led to the nation's high living standards.

The United States has only 6 percent of the world's population and 7 percent of its land area. But it has 60 percent of the world's automobiles, 80 percent of its television sets and hospital beds, and 90 percent of its refrigerators, showers and bathtubs, Limbaugh said.

This nation, he said, has the highest life expectancy and highest per capita income of any country.

Limbaugh told the graduates they must preserve liberty and freedom as previous generations have. "I suggest to you that liberty and freedom is everybody's business."

He emphasized the important of traditional values and urged graduates to "embrace the work ethic."

"You know there is no free lunch. You must win on your own initiative and own hard work," he said.