Condoleezza Rice

Recently there was uproar at Rutgers over the fact that Condoleezza Rice was asked to be the commencement speaker. An uproar started by certain faculty groups, as I understand it. Calling her a war monger, among other things.

Condoleezza Rice, who has a master’s degree in political science from Notre Dame and a Ph.D. in political science from the Josef Korbel School of International Studies at the University of Denver. Condoleezza Rice, who has been a professor at Stanford University for 30 years. Who is an accomplished pianist who has performed with the likes of Yo-Yo Ma and Aretha Franklin. Condoleezza Rice, the first black female secretary of state.

It makes me wonder were the outrage was from these “faculty groups” when “Snooki” was asked to speak at Rutgers. Granted she was not asked to make the commencement speech, but still, Snooki??? Snooki, whose claim to fame is being a drunk, a harlot, and a “twit” cum laude. Who, along with her cohorts, brought the reputation of Seaside Heights down to a level not seen before. Snookie, whose profound and inspirational message, “Study hard but party harder,” got her 32 grand.  Yep, higher education, “gotta love it”

But fear not learned faculty groups. If you are looking for a replacement for the commencement speech I believe Lindsay Lohan or Paris Hilton may be available.

– Joe Bayona

Protests are nothing new on college campuses, but having a petition started by professors to have a commencement speaker uninvited is beyond the pale.

I don’t know the procedures involved in choosing commencement speakers. Condoleezza Rice was approved, sent an invitation to speak and she accepted.

The faculty and students who were opposed Ms. Rice as a speaker could have protested silently and respectfully during her appearance.

In the future, there’s a possibility that some of the people opposed to Condoleezza Rice may become very prominent themselves. They may also find themselves in the same position that they put Ms. Rice in.

How would they feel if their political or social views were not accepted by a small group?  And that small group was able to pressure others to forbid them from speaking at a public engagement that they were invited to?

Ms. Rice is a class act and she thought about the Rutgers graduates. After careful thought, she did not want her appearance to be  a distraction and declined the invitation. The Rutgers students and faculty could have learned valuable life lessons from her.
Carolyn Maxwell

Whether or not you agree with the politics behind the Iraq War or the War in Afghanistan, I believe that Condoleezza Rice had something to offer as a speaker. She is a accomplished scholar and served in many political arenas before coming the Secretary of State. Just because some people disagree with her politics is a poor reason to make someone unwelcome as a commencement speaker

– Katherine Massopust