When Aung San Suu Kyi is in the room, the audience tends to focus on her.

At Saturday’s World Leaders Forum event, she managed to discuss serious issues behind Burma’s political transition in between making a joke about pressure cookers and publicizing a vacant speechwriting position.

She took questions and asked advice of the students in the room. She left an email address and promised to respond to everyone. She talked about the importance of staying true to principles, but left no doubt that she was fully cognizant of the immediate and practical challenges she faces as an incumbent politician.

It would have been difficult to leave Saturday’s discussion and remain unconvinced that Aung San Suu Kyi is a wonderful human being. But one portion of Saturday’s discussion was probably forgotten by most: Lee Bollinger’s opening remarks.

Bollinger’s gesture was a class act. It was as touching as it was sincere, and it could not have been more appropriate for the time and place.

Check it out below:

(PrezBo begins his remarks at around 0:50 and leaves the stage at 7:10—feel free to begin at 3:40 though)

Bollinger’s Remarks