The Collegian

Issue date: 2/28/08 Section: News

The office of the provost announced Louis Freeh, director of the Federal Bureau of Investigation from 1993 to 2001, as Hillsdale College's 2008 commencement speaker late Wednesday afternoon.

"Mr. Freeh was picked in conjunction with the senior class officers by the administration," said Jeremiah Regan, senior class vice president. "He has served the nation at one of the highest levels possible. He also has shown an ability to excel and an appreciation for liberty."

Currently the founder and senior managing partner of a consulting firm, Freeh Assistant Professor of English John Freeh's older brother.

"I am delighted he's coming," John Freeh said. "I know he has a great affection for young people. He's interested in their development, professional and personal development."

Senior Class President Cody Strecker said Freeh was chosen for his experience in high-profile jobs and influential involvement in the country, in addition to his connection to John Freeh.

Strecker said the ideal candidate meets a list of certain criteria including: alignment with the mission of the college, proven speaking skills and name recognition.

Senior Jeff Brewer, along with class officers, suggested Freeh to President Larry Arnn and Vice President of External Affairs Doug Jeffrey after reading Freeh's book, "My FBI." Brewer also said the senior class officers looked into several other candidates, but they "fell through."

Senior Paul Ray said he had hoped someone nominated by the senior class as a whole would be chosen, but still will enjoy the speech.

"Offhand, I would have liked it to be someone we nominated, but at the same time, I think Mr. Freeh could be a very interesting speaker," Ray said. "He's been successful in different spheres of life, in business, government, in law. I think we can learn from that."

Other seniors, such as Meredith Bogacz and Chandler Baer, said they do not have strong feelings either way.

Freeh led prosecution in the "Pizza Connection" case of the mid-1980s, which involved an operation of Sicilian organized crime members using their pizza parlors as avenues for drug trafficking, according to Freeh's profile on the FBI Web site. Sixteen were convicted.

The Web site calls the case "the largest and most complex investigation ever undertaken at the time by the United States Government."

Freeh, a graduate of Rutgers University and New York University of Law School, joined the FBI as a special agent in 1975 and transferred to its New York City Field Division.
He was appointed United States district court judge for the Southern District of New York by President George H.W. Bush in 1991, serving there until 1993 when he was appointed as FBI Director by President William Clinton.

In 2001, he left the FBI to become Vice Chairman, General Counsel and Ethics Officer of MBNA America Bank, where he served as the principal lawyer when Bank of America acquired MBNA in a $35 billion transaction. He later left, forming Freeh Group International in 2007.

Hillsdale College Collegian 2008

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