Should Student Involvement Be Key in Choosing a Commencement Speaker?
1:33 PM
Year
after year, among the complaints about how expensive the tuition is and the
grievances about off campus living, there is one objection that outweighs the
rest: the commencement speaker. Some students despise the speaker while others
admire the orator. “You can’t make everyone happy all of the time, someone’s
always going to have something to say,” Student Government representative Jon
McClary stated. Regardless of whom the
commencement speaker is, one of the main arguments around this time of year is whether
students should be more involved in choosing the commencement speaker.
However,
most USC students are unaware of the process Student Government goes through
when choosing the commencement speaker. Anitra Hall, junior public relations
major, says she has “no idea what it is.”
“I just
assumed that it was a board of people maybe,” graduating senior Jill Davis
said. “I mean, I assume the presidents involved and Student Government is
involved too but I don’t know.” Davis also refers to the process being almost
“top secret,” as if the student body is not supposed to know until a few weeks
before commencement.
Student
Body President Chase Mizzell outlined the process they go through when choosing
the commencement speaker. “The commencement speaker process consists first of a
suggestion period, where all members of the Carolina community are eligible. We
receive nominations from faculty, staff, and students. Previously, students had
not been as engaged with the process, so former Student Body President Kenny
Tracy worked closely with Secretary of the Board of Trustees, Amy Stone, to
develop the student commencement committee.”
McClary
believes that there should be a certain level of division between those who are
in charge of the decision making process and the students. “When you get too
many opinions, no one is going to be happy and that just makes things worse
than what they are.”
Nevertheless,
most students believe that this degree of involvement isn’t representative of the
entire student body. “I think students
should be able to do some kind of vote on it,” graduating senior Joshua Woods
said. “I think that’d be the best way. People on the panel don’t speak for a
majority of everybody.”
Although McClary says that, as a member of Student
Government, “our goal is to be public servants for the students. So that’s all
we do - we serve the students,” he also recognizes that the graduating seniors
should have more of a say in the process of choosing a speaker.
From
Professor Glenda Alvarado’s perspective, the commencement speaker is far from
the most important part of the ceremony. “Let's face it, you and your family
really only came to see one person on stage – you. And that takes all of 10
seconds for most people… I'm glad I don't have to choose anyone to speak at
commencement; I have no idea who I would pick,” Alvarado said. “I've been to three
USC commencements and three for my own degrees and I couldn't name all the
speakers, let alone remember any of what was said.”
Regardless
of whether student involvement was increased this year or should be increased
in the future, a majority of the graduating seniors this year have more
positive feelings regarding the orator for this May. In regards to Darius
Rucker, this year’s commencement speaker for the College of Arts and Sciences,
Mizzell has only heard great things. “He will undoubtedly bring a hometown
success story connection and a huge passion for the Gamecocks that will
resonate well with the crowd.”
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