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Likins to bid farewell to class of '99 at commencement

UA President Peter Likins will address the last graduating class of the millennium as the guest speaker at the university's 121st commencement Dec. 18.

About 2,734 undergraduates will receive their degrees in the fall commencement, which will be held at 9:30 a.m. at McKale Center.

Peggy Ota, assistant to the president, said faculty members suggested that Likins be this year's commencement speaker. Students were very happy with that idea, she said.

Before Likins came to the university, the University of Arizona president typically spoke at commencements, Ota added.

Likins said he was not accustomed to giving commencement speeches because at his former school, Lehigh University in Bethlehem, Penn., addresses were given by an outside speaker.

Likins spoke at his first commencement as UA president in December 1997, but since then he said he has tried to invite outside speakers.

"I enjoy doing them but I prefer our students to get an outside perspective," Likins said.

Associated Students President Cisco Aguilar said he spoke with some seniors and members of Bobcats, the senior honorary organization, and everyone agreed they wanted Likins to speak at the graduation.

"He is a great speaker," Aguilar said.

Likins said he is not worried about giving the speech, he just does not want to disappoint the students.

"It's not a question of the quality of the talk, it's about the excitement," Likins said. "It's hard for me to fill that role of Greg Kinnear or Madeleine Albright."

The president said he would rather have a more exciting person speak.

"I'm a default choice," Likins said. "I'm stepping in because we were unable to get the more exciting choice."

Aguilar originally suggested that former UA basketball stars Sean Elliott and Steve Kerr speak, but they were unable to make a commitment.

"I was a little disappointed because (UA Athletic Director Jim) Livengood said there was a good chance they would be able to make it," Aguilar said.

Aguilar said he suggested the basketball players because this year's graduating class is one of the last group of students who were here when the UA won the 1997 men's basketball national championship.

Ota said students expect highly recognized people to speak, but usually universities do not pay people for their appearance at commencement because it is considered an honor.

"These things are very complicated," Ota said. "Usually to find a commencement speaker, you go through five or six speakers."

Along with the undergraduates, 657 students will receive masters degrees and 245 students will receive doctoral degrees.