<p>Worst speaker ever. Enough said.</p>
<p>My graduate commencement speaker (at another school) was a big name in my field and I had a hard time paying attention. :)</p>
<p>My undergrad speaker was Tim Russert. He was known to deliver roughly the same speech at every commencement at which he spoke. </p>
<p>Unfortunately, most of these speeches are pretty dry.</p>
<p>Boring is better than dark. I do not recall the graduation speaking when I graduated from UVA law in 1981 (George H.W.Bush-then VP was the speaker for the colleges). But, Elisabeth Kubler-Ross, the author of On Death and Dying was the speaker at my college graduation in 1978. She is very well regarded but a little dark for a graduation speaker.</p>
<p>We called this morning to get rooms for next year’s graduation. They want $1300 for a single room at the Omni. Three night minimum plus you must pay for one dinner at the hotel. The Omni isn’t that nice. Any suggestions - assuming that it’s not too late at other hotels?</p>
<p>Try going a little bit outside Charlottesville? For my brother’s graduation in '04 we snatched a place in Staunton for like $125/night…for my graduation last year I managed to get a room for family at a newer hotel in Waynesboro for like $150/night. It’s not as close as being in Charlottesville, but either time I didn’t think it was that big of a hassle. Try Kayak.com, I’ve found it to be a helpful website to search prices for all the hotels in an area.</p>
<p>Just got back from son’s graduation. I thought the speaker was interesting but what do I know. A bit surprised though that UVa did not/could not get a more high profile person. Just glad the weather held out just enough to have things on the Lawn. Try something out of town for hotel unless money is not an issue. We stayed at Best Western Crossroads in Gordonsville(free breakfast). Lots of restaurants want a non refundable deposit . We played that game and it does not seem to be necessary unless there is a restaurant you have your heart set on . Also, times of diploma ceremonies can change if the weather is really bad.</p>
<p>I almost got ripped off at the Omni as well. Eventually they gave my money back ($1200+) on the same day I was supposed to check-in as someone else wanted a room. </p>
<p>Try Boar’s Head Inn right now. I called them a few months ago and they were fully booked. A week before graduation, however, I found vacancies on their website and paid about $500. You might want to try calling them and booking on their web site. The resort is so much nicer than the Omni.</p>
<p>Dawn Staley was a much better speaker than the judge- she spoke at the Valedictory address on Saturday. I just thought that the judge just droned on too long about his father…</p>
<p>It’s a shame I didn’t get to see Dawn Staley… She’s a three-time gold medalist and should’ve switched places with Wilkinson who was just soo boring. We could’ve gotten Katie Couric, Hillary Clinton, or Oprah.</p>
<p>“We could’ve gotten Katie Couric, Hillary Clinton, or Oprah.”</p>
<p>You’re joking right? While you’re shooting for the stars here maybe next year you can try for Paris Hilton. I’m just sayin…</p>
<p>Oprah spoke at my son’s graduation at Duke two weeks back. Her GF’s Gail’s son–her godson-- was in the class of 09 at Duke…so that is the reason she agreed to come.
She did a good job. However, Duke miscalculated number of chairs required on the field, and most of the last graduates to appear Duke’s MDs and many PhD’s-- had to stand the whole ceremony which was really strange, distracting and distressing to observe.<br>
maybe it will be funny in a few years…</p>
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<p>Was that the cost for just one night? </p>
<p>Is a hotel room necessary if you live in NoVa?</p>
<p>I just booked two rooms at the Boar’s Head for D’s graduation in 2011. The cost is $400 per room per night with a three night minimum.</p>
<p>Room extensions aren’t sufficient?</p>
<p>I mean, everyone besides the fourth years vacate on-Grounds housing after final exams… so I mean it’s not really infeasible to just occupy an empty room. (Well maybe it works for the IRC, I haven’t seen the style of non-first-year, non-RC rooms yet.)</p>
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<p>I wondered the same thing. I will have an empty 4 bedroom at GM next year. Lots nicer than the Omni and everyone gets a bathroom and there is a full kitchen. The lease has a lot of restrictions so I’m not sure it is feasible…</p>
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<p>Are you an overweight woman who reads Us magazine or something? Those are horrible suggestions.</p>
<p>As much as I wouldn’t want to see a “celebrity” or politician as the graduation speaker, I think Tina Fey (CLAS '92) would have been an excellent choice. Smart, witty, creative, successful and very attractive, of course 
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<p>Otherwise I think the best kind of speaker would be some sort of well-respected economist or corporate executive.</p>
<p>Richard Dawkins.</p>
<p>I think TJ would have loved him.</p>
<p>Dawkins is an interesting fellow but his schtick wears thin after a while and he’d be extremely polarizing. His books are great though. He did visit UVa to give a speach a while back, galoisien, but I believe that was before your time in C’ville.</p>
<p>Personally I just think he’s saying the naked truth, but people don’t like to be disillusioned.</p>
<p>I’ve heard a rumor (based on nothing tangible that was communicated to me) that Tina Fey did not enjoy her UVA experience, and in fact loathes UVA. Is this rumor true at all? I know it’s a naive question, but what the heck, I’ll go for it.</p>