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<p>My thoughts exactly.</p>
<p>I do think the school paper wasn’t very nice when they described her coming to speak, they actually quoted someone saying that it was a “step down” from who we have had in the past. After reading more about her I’m sure she’ll be an inspiring speaker despite the fact that the most students don’t know who she is. Hopefully it’ll all be good. I’ve been to past graduations before where we’ve had more prominent people speak and it was boring, so its all about the speech they give.</p>
<p>fummer, </p>
<p>Typically, those who speak at graduation are well accomplished in their fields and thus older. In other words, it may not be someone the students know like an MTV star or some such. In Judy Woodruff, your school is getting a speaker of national prominence, who is well known in political journalism. </p>
<p>I can see MAYBE how YOU haven’t heard of her if you don’t follow news programs. But I do find it hard to imagine how students who have studied journalism, such as your school paper staff at a college, would not have heard of Ms. Woodruff, nor done their research to outline her expansive background in articles they wrote to announce her speaking engagement.</p>
<p>FWIW, Judy Woodruff was the graduation speaker at Duke in 1994…
[Duke</a> Commencement: Past Speakers](<a href=“Duke Commencement”>Duke Commencement)</p>
<p>One of the people receiving an honorary degree is the one associated with donations to the college.
<a href=“http://www.fmcollegereporter.com/commencement-speaker-honorary-degree-recipients-chosen-for-2010-1.1114632[/url]”>http://www.fmcollegereporter.com/commencement-speaker-honorary-degree-recipients-chosen-for-2010-1.1114632</a></p>
<p>LOL, I was just checking my S’s college’s website to see if they announced their speaker yet. First hit in the search included Judy Woodruff’s name, so I clicked to see what it was. She was the speaker there in 1991. I’ll bet she has tons more interesting things to talk about now!</p>
<p>fummer10’s school newspaper staff needs to do their research before they start insulting their commencement speaker. I agree with soozie that it doesn’t speak well for their program if they are not aware of her.</p>
<p>Thanks for the link to the Franklin and Marshall school paper article outlining who will be recipients of Honorary Degrees and who will be commencement speaker. </p>
<p>Indeed, Judy Woodruff is not being given an honorary degree nor was selected as the speaker due to ANY donations to FM. That is ANOTHER honorary degree recipient/alum. It is kinda amazing that anyone would link this. </p>
<p>The comment by the student that Judy Woodruff is a step down from Colin Powell sounds ignorant. Commencement speakers come from MANY fields. So, it goes without saying that someone in politics or entertainment might be more “famous” and so Colin Powell might be more known to students than Judy Woodruff. But Judy Woodruff is NOT a step down. It is a matter of one’s field. She is of national prominence but as a journalist. For example, many commencement speakers are writers or researchers and the like whose names do not roll off the tongue for some college students if they don’t follow those fields. But they are still PROMINENT in their respective fields. Commencement speakers are not just chosen from entertainment and politics. I would help that students who graduate from college understand that prominent figures exist in all fields of academia and careers.</p>
<p>Thank you to everyone who responded with information, I realize I didn’t really look into her much, as most people also haven’t. We don’t actually have a journalism as a major here and most of the people who work for the paper just do it for fun and don’t have any more writing/world experience than the next student. Unfortunately “fame and name” are usually what students are concerned with when it comes to commencement speakers and I think thats why we were initially like “huh? who?”
I just wanted to point out also that they do not post the full article that we see appearing the paper editions here online. The article online was a very shortened version of what we saw, and in our article the first and main thing they pointed out about her was that she gave money to the college so people were automatically like “oh, so that’s why” But I’m sure she’ll be great, thanks!</p>
<p>Ok , now that we have that cleared up, anymore news about speakers at different colleges??</p>
<p>ohio wesleyan–Johm McCain :(</p>
<p>George Washington University - Michele Obama, but only if they are able to achieve 100,000 hours of community service (they are halfway there)</p>
<p>Carleton College selects two students to make commencement addresses. Two others who will be receiving honorary doctorates will make brief comments, but the focus is on the students.</p>
<p>Two years ago my daughter’s school, Trinity University, changed from having “famous” comencement speakers to students chosen by their fellow grads. I think that’s nice.</p>
<p>Judy W. is one of my favorites! F & M got a great speaker.</p>
<p>KCOHIO- boy if McCain was speaking at my kids graduation I would have a big problem! I think colleges should stay away from picking politicians for that reason.</p>
<p>believe me — I do have a problem! So do many of the kids. They don’t want McCain but they also don’t want graduation disturbed by protesters. Rather have Judy Woodruff.</p>
<p>KCOHIO - I’m with you - I think it is unfortunate that OWU chose a speaker who is so recently controversial. No matter which side you are on politically, I think it is a shame to insert divisive politics into what should be a celebratory day for ALL students and families.</p>
<p>I’m sorry, how exactly is John McCain controversial again? Because he ran for President against someone you like and lost?</p>
<p>Actually, I find John McCain to be a pretty middle of the road kind of guy. And his Daughter Megan is very left… so I think he’s open to discussion and ideas and he’s not making a policy speech, he’s telling you to go out in the world and be a whole person.</p>
<p>Re; McCain- Hey look, I’m as left as they come but I don’t remember anyone getting too upset when I posted that Pelosi will speak at Cornell this year.</p>
<p>This is why they shouldn’t invite politicians as commencement speakers. All I can say is that if I was a student at OW I would be very upset and would probably not want to participate in the graduation. Flame me if you want, but at the age of 21 I was extremely liberal/progressive and wouldn’t want to be getting words of wisdom from someone whose politics I despised. In fact as a parent today I would be really upset that I was being forced to listen to him. I have absolutely no respect for the man’s politics/character.</p>
<p>I think one of the worst parts is how upset the seniors are getting with each other. Some think he is a hero and thus no one should say anything against him. Others – not so much. I think many of them still see things in black and white so there are a lot of hurt feelings and a lot of anger. Personally I’m no fan and I don’t relish sitting through one of his speeches, but no way will I boycott my son’s graduation.</p>