. . . or an alum?

By Jordan Elias

Tom Brokaw is an accomplished man. He is a fine man. He communicates clearly, sincerely. And even though he mumbles, he will no doubt give a good speech--an eloquent and earnest speech--this May 24th.

Of Brokaw, John Updike, arguably America's greatest living writer, has said, "Although he swallows a lot of words, he seems to suffer with news most sincerely."

Brokaw, a mellow guy, has even fished with "trout boy" James Prosak, BR '97.

But despite his impressive credentials and solid character, Brokaw, who graduated from South Dakota in 1962, is the wrong person to choose as Class Day speaker.

Why? Because he never passed around a red cup at Mory's until his shirt collar was drenched. Because he never made his way down the Old Campus cobblestones at the Freshman Bazaar, eagerly signing up for way too much stuff. Because he never toiled in the sweaty stacks of SML, and because he never felt the delirious glory of a "walk of shame" as the sun rose over the Green.

In recent memory, Class Day speakers have always come from the Yale family. They have known how it feels to graduate from Yale--they have even reminisced from the lectern. And seniors have taken pride in them. Altogether, Betty Trachtenberg was right on the money when she called Brokaw's surprise selection"quite a departure."

Sure, the senior class council faces a hard sell without the lure of an honorary degree or an honorarium. It's a real shame the Yale Administration refuses to ante up for speakers the way other colleges do. Still, Class Day chair Preston Hopson, SM '98, managed to land Brokaw.

But it's not like senior officers faced a short list of potential alumni to woo. In fact, if they could pull in Brokaw, it is ridiculous to think that Hopson and company could not have attracted a dignified, famous, and entertaining speaker who actually went to Yale.

Who, you may ask? Here are just a few answers. Actors? There's Angela Bassett, CC '80, MFA '82, or Meryl Streep, MFA '75. Politicians? Senator John Kerry, JE '66, or Clinton aide David Gergen, ES '63.

Businesspersons? Sotheby's CEO Diana Brooks, PC '72. Writers? Columnist Calvin Trillin, SM '57, or Pulitzer Prize winning journalist Bob Woodward, ES '65. Artists? Maya Lin, SY '81, ARC '86, or Garry Trudeau, DC '70.

But the Class of '98 won't be hearing any of these distinguished Yale men or Yale women, as we finally become true Yale men and true Yale women ourselves.

The tradition of alumni Class Day speakers existed for a reason: it generated strong feelings of Yale pride on Class Day. During a special life event, it celebrated continuity. No matter who this year's speaker is, it is too bad the tradition has unnecessarily ended.

Jordan Elias is a senior in Berkeley.

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