Skool Daze

I don't really remember my college graduation speaker.

At the cash-strapped (at the time) little college I went to, the speaker was usually some poobah who'd given the school a load of money.

Our year was no exception. I don't remember his name; a little guy who'd just retired as a CEO of some company in Minneapolis, I think.

I remember the speech, though. To paraphrase: "You North Dakota kids really work hard. Employers appreciate that. I mean, not so much that you should start looking for the keys to the executive washroom or anything, but boy, we appreciate you...". It was one of the most insulting exercises I've ever attended - downright depressing.

Looking at who's speaking to all the kids these days, I don't feel so bad.

Via SCSU Scholars, this piece from Students for Academic Freedom, on the people speaking to this year's grads.

Bradley Whitford of “The West Wing” may have uttered the most honest words of this commencement season at University of Wisconsin. After deriding President Bush, he candidly told the crowd, “Now, you may think that I am inappropriately taking this opportunity to attack the president on a meaningless issue because of my particular political persuasion – and you would be correct.” Enough said.

Read the whole depressing thing.

Posted by Mitch at July 6, 2004 05:00 AM | TrackBack