J. Craig Venter. Brilliant man, I’m sure. But let’s be honest. The man in the wheelchair outside Starbucks would’ve been a better choice. Your students actually know him. They’ve even paid him, so you would save money. And a college degree would help him attain a better standard of living.

I supported Jamie Dimon last year. He is a well-known person. He was a justifiable choice amid the complaints from last year’s students. But in this year, my last year at this school, the decision has been made to ask a relatively unknown person (relative to college students, who this ceremony is for, not your elitist board and friends or colleagues) to give the speech.

I hope he gives a strong speech and blows us away. But come on. This guy? Really? This is Syracuse University. How many notable alumni do we have? Where are they? Why not have someone come back who sat where we will in May? Someone who understands the spirit of the university? Who still calls us the Orangemen?

I am extremely disappointed that I will have to explain to 99 percent of the people I talk to about my commencement who the speaker was, because they will not know who he is either.

Way to go, Nance. What’s next, taking away our free speech? Oh, wait, that’s already been done at the College of Law.

Pete Stamm

Senior broadcast journalism major

 

Published on March 26, 2011 at 12:00 pm