Getting a wildly popular commencement speaker can be a tall order for colleges ? especially if they aren?t willing to shell out substantial cash or don?t have connections to big names.
Students at Maryland universities have tussled with administrators over commencement speakers they didn?t feel were big enough names in the past, and this year was no different.
Students at Johns Hopkins University said they were frustrated with the selection of Elias A. Zerhouni, director of the National Institutes of Health, and newspaper editors called on the administration to provide money to increase the profile of commencement speakers.
In recent years, the University of Maryland lobbied for takeover of the commencement speaker selection after a string of what students considered disappointing administration choices, most notably Fannie Mae Chief Executive Officer Frank Raines.
Undergraduate commencement speakers at colleges throughout Maryland this year include Vice President Dick Cheney, U.S. Sen. Paul Sarbanes, longtime sports anchor Bob Costas and comedian Harry Shearer.
Even when students vote on the speaker, they usually have to settle for who is attainable, which often means the administrations relies on a connection.
Speakers for undergrad ceremonies
» Johns Hopkins University ? Elias A. Zerhouni
» Loyola University ? Bob Costas
» U.S. Naval Academy ? Vice President Dick Cheney
» University of Maryland, College Park ? Sen. Paul Sarbanes
» Goucher College ? Comedian Harry Shearer
» St. John?s College ? Assistant Dean Judith Seeger
» Towson University ? Rep. Ben Cardin
» University of Maryland, Baltimore County ? Dr. Solomon Snyder, a Johns Hopkins University professor
