Handing out supposed advanced degrees to those who haven't paid the grueling price is similar to third world dictators sewing some brass macaroni to a hat and calling themselves generals.
It's not that big a deal, they are "honorary" degrees. This woman, Mary Robinson, spoke at commencement this year when my daughter got her M.A. Past commencement speakers have included Barbara Bush and her son George. They got honorary Doctors of Humane Letters as well. You think Barbara and George shouldn't have been so honored? What about Henry "The Fonz" Winkler, who spoke when my daughter got her BS? (It was a great address, best I've heard. Mary Robinson's was pretty pitiful) (The school doesn't even grant real doctorates, the Master's, which is granted by the department my wife is chair of, is the only post bachelors degree they grant).