She also acknowledged the perils of climate change, disease and global nuclear proliferation and warned the audience to take those challenges seriously.
"At the root of my conviction is a strong sense of reality - we don't have a choice," Clinton said. "We can sit on the sidelines, we can wring our hands, we can retreat into cynicism, and we know what the result will be."
The NYU ceremonies were held under sunny skies on the infield of the new Yankee Stadium. Donning a purple academic robe, Clinton, who served eight years as senator from New York before Obama nominated her as secretary of state, was loudly cheered as she marched in procession through the stadium.
The former first lady who battled President Obama for the Democratic nomination last year acknowledged that the efforts of young people had helped elect her erstwhile rival.
"Many of you, I know, used social networking platforms to make Barack Obama the president of the United States," Clinton said to loud cheers. She urged graduates to use those tools to help eradicate poverty and organize against repressive political ideologies around the globe.
"Does it get better than this?" Clinton said. "A graduation ceremony for one of the great universities in the world, in the home of the New York Yankees."
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