On the list: Govenor Sarah Palin
Admin. deliberates over 2009 commencement speaker
Nick Tabor & Kate Brewster News Editor & Collegian Freelancer
Issue date: 2/19/09 Section: News
Since the senior class submitted recommendations for this May's commencement speaker last fall, the External Affairs office has worked its way down the list, inviting candidates in order of priority. It won't announce its results until a candidate accepts an invitation, sometime later this semester.
"We make an announcement as soon as we find a speaker who is able to come here and agrees to," said Doug Jeffrey, vice president of External Affairs.
External Affairs started with a list of 14 candidates, comprising politicians, writers and entertainers such as Alaska Governor Sarah Palin, historian David McCullough and comedian Stephen Colbert.
Senior class President Ryan Walsh said the senior class officers narrow and prioritize the class' submissions in consultation with President Larry Arnn. Jeffrey then sends letters and phone calls to the remaining candidates, one at a time, in order of desirability. He stops when a candidate accepts the invitation.
Jeffrey said the candidates must embody the values of Hillsdale College and support its mission as an academic institution. The officers also look for candidates whom they think will focus on the graduating seniors.
Arnn recommends additions and subtractions to the officers' revised list of candidates, Walsh said.
The college does not pay the speaker a fee, Jeffrey said, but it does cover his basic expenses.
He declined to say how many of the 14 candidates he has invited so far.
"We make an announcement as soon as we find a speaker who is able to come here and agrees to," said Doug Jeffrey, vice president of External Affairs.
External Affairs started with a list of 14 candidates, comprising politicians, writers and entertainers such as Alaska Governor Sarah Palin, historian David McCullough and comedian Stephen Colbert.
Senior class President Ryan Walsh said the senior class officers narrow and prioritize the class' submissions in consultation with President Larry Arnn. Jeffrey then sends letters and phone calls to the remaining candidates, one at a time, in order of desirability. He stops when a candidate accepts the invitation.
Jeffrey said the candidates must embody the values of Hillsdale College and support its mission as an academic institution. The officers also look for candidates whom they think will focus on the graduating seniors.
Arnn recommends additions and subtractions to the officers' revised list of candidates, Walsh said.
The college does not pay the speaker a fee, Jeffrey said, but it does cover his basic expenses.
He declined to say how many of the 14 candidates he has invited so far.
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