Senior class still waiting for Commencement speaker

With Commencement looming less than two months away, Class Day Committee members still report no progress on getting a new speaker to replace United Nations (UN) Secretary-General Kofi Annan.

Senior Class Council President Stephen Kraus, PC '99, admitted that the search is still on for a speaker and the committee is not ruling anyone out. "Annan's cancellation makes it hard but not impossible to find a high-profile speaker." Kraus guaranteed that a Class Day speaker will be found. He also mentioned that University President Richard Levin, GRD '74, and University Secretary Linda Lorimer, LAW '77, "have been wonderful in the process."

In a letter dated Tues., Jan. 12, Annan related the news of his cancellation to Jenny Edwards, Association of Yale Alumni (AYA) Associate Director for Yale College Classes. Since then, schools across the country have booked their commencement speakers. On Thurs., Mar. 18, Penn announced that U.S. Secretary of the Treasury Robert Rubin, LAW '64, will deliver its commencement address, and on Fri., Mar. 26, Harvard announced that Federal Reserve Chairman Alan Greenspan will speak at commencement. At Yale, meanwhile, the Class Day Committee would not confirm that it has set a deadline. Regarding specifics, Class Day committee co-chair Bryan Koplin, DC '99, simply stated, "We can make very few comments." Koplin, however, still convident, said, "Whoever we get will be excellent. The committee has been working since day one, and we will continue to work hard."

Since it does not offer honorary degrees to its Commencement speakers, Yale may be at a disadvantage. Other schools, like Harvard and Penn, use honorary degrees to attract speakers. Nonetheless, Koplin believes Yale's policy insures that the University attracts selfless, committed speakers. In addition, Yale policy also places all responsibility for finding Class Day speakers on the graduating class itself. At other schools, however, university presidents and administrators oversee invitation of Commencement speakers.

Frederick Sheahan, SM '99, voiced his frustration with the current situation. "I just hope they can find a quality speaker last-minute. I'd be disappointed with someone who's directly associated with Yale."

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