OT: Who was your commencement speaker?

Submitted by pdxblue on
I know we've had this before, but as I turn on the BTN and see pretty packed stadium, I thought about it again. My commencement speaker was pretty unexciting. Apparently, there is a tradition that when we have a new President of the University, that person is the commencement speaker. So my speaker was... James Duderstadt. I have no idea what he said.

Mlaw2010

May 1st, 2010 at 1:21 PM ^

Undergrad at Cornell: Soledad O'Brien (one week after she was demoted from her regular position at CNN)

Masters Degree: Obama today

Law Degree: Valerie Jarrett (all Obama administration all the time)

West Texas Blue

May 1st, 2010 at 1:52 PM ^

Christine Amanapour for main graduation, Larry Page for engineering graduation. When I got my degree and walked to shake Page's hand, he repeated my last name and said "Nice!" Yeah I still think that moment was rad.

Wendyk5

May 1st, 2010 at 1:56 PM ^

I'm sure he was fine, but the big deal was the hundreds of students who wore 'Free Nelson Mandela" bumper stickers on the backs of their gowns, some of whom stood and turned their backs to Mike Wallace. I have no idea why. 

GD18

May 1st, 2010 at 2:34 PM ^

I had Bill Cosby as my commencement speaker, and my brother's class had Bill Nye the Science Guy.  Both were very good speakers, but Bill Nye was more entertaining.

J.Swift

May 1st, 2010 at 2:57 PM ^

Yep. May, 1964. JFK, who spoke on the steps of the Union in the Fall, 1960, had agreed to speak at graduation in 1964. LBJ honored that promise after Kennedy was killed in November, 1963. At our graduation, Johnson unveiled his Great Society program. He was not a great speaker, but it was an unforgettable moment.

Mi Sooner

May 1st, 2010 at 3:40 PM ^

had jean kirkpatrick in 88, while i had gloria steinem the same tear down in toledo.  steinen's was better.

 

nb:  steinen was from toledo, thus, the pick.


 

MGoShoe

May 2nd, 2010 at 7:05 PM ^

...graduated in '89 and had James (Not The Dude) Duderstadt.  Very disappointing, but you learn to get over these things. I think our class was somewhat consoled by the fact that during our senior year MBB won the national championship and football won the Big 10 and Rose Bowl.

My NROTC class was commisioned at Rackham following commencement, and that was great. But, I was really happy to see that this year's crop of Army, Air Force, Navy and Marine Corps Second Lieutenants/Ensigns were commissioned by the Commander-in-Chief. The president speaks at one of the service academies each year (this year it's USMA), so for ROTC students to have this kind of experience is absolutely golden.

goMichblue

June 14th, 2010 at 4:58 PM ^

We had Bill Clinton, very good speaker, while he was still in office.  Got to shake his had after getting my diploma, which i can't seem to find.