Faculty orator expected for winter graduation

There's still a problem, though: With 16 days left until commencement, University of Arizona officials have not confirmed which faculty member will address graduates at the Dec. 19 ceremony.

"We selected a potential speaker, we thought everything was arranged, but the individual has to be out of the country," said Terence Burke, associate to UA President Peter Likins.

Burke said he hopes to confirm an alternate speaker by the end of the week.

"If you don't hear a name soon, you'll hear me scream," he said.

After miscommunication last spring in which administrators confirmed NASA Administrator Daniel Goldin's appearance at the same time ASUA was booking actor and alumnus Greg Kinnear, ASUA now submits a list of recommended speakers to Likins each semester.

Likins, who has the final word regarding graduation speakers, said he hopes to begin a tradition by having a faculty member speak in December and an outside speaker participate in May's commencement.

"I want the students to get involved in both sides, and I want the opportunity to say something about our own faculty, for students to choose faculty that have had an impact on them," Likins said.

Taylor said she likes the current plan, but she said that it may leave December graduates feeling some-what slighted.

"I hope to move toward a way so that its equal for both graduations," Taylor said. "I know from the opinions I've heard - they (students) really like an outside speaker. It made it seem more like a college graduation because that's traditionally what all big universities do - but I'm sure there were people last year that didn't feel like Greg Kinnear should have spoken at their graduation, so it kind of goes both ways."

ASUA Speakers Board Director Justin Klump said he sent out e-mail, subscribed to Internet discussion groups and surveyed students on the UA Mall before submitting a list of suggested speakers to Likins this semester.

He is now working on suggestions for May.

"I'm just trying to formulate a list that has - as many (speakers) as students would like to come see speak at the graduation," he said.

Other than a few words by Barry Goldwater in 1994, May 16 was the first time the UA had an outside speaker since 1986, when students threw tortillas, blew bubbles and sounded noisemakers, prompting officials to eliminate guest appearances.

Arizona State University in Tempe traditionally selects a student nominated by his or her college and chosen by a student committee to deliver the keynote speech, said Sarah Auffret, an ASU spokeswoman.

Student speakers have been the tradition at ASU at least since Lattie Coor became president there eight years ago, Auffret said.

"He likes the emphasis to be on students," she said. "The commencement office looked into it (outside speakers) a couple years ago and there was no support for it."

Northern Arizona University is shifting its tradition this year. Christopher Darden, one of the prosecutors in O.J. Simpson's 1995 murder trial, will be the first person from outside the state of Arizona to speak at an NAU commencement when he speaks in Flagstaff Dec. 12.

"He (Darden) is very much a believer in what education can do for a person, and I think he'll be a very memorable speaker," said Barbara Williamson, an NAU spokeswoman.

Student focus groups told officials they wanted someone of "national stature" to speak at commencement, Williamson said.

Past speakers at NAU have included Eddie Basha, an Arizona grocery magnate and former gubernatorial candidate, Wilma Mankiller, former principal chief of the Cherokee Nation, and various faculty members.

Williamson said she expects national figures at future NAU commencement ceremonies.

"We're going to continue to look for ways to make this a great event for our graduates," she said.

Joseph Altman Jr. can be reached via e-mail at Joseph.Altman.Jr@wildcat.arizona.edu.