Posted on 05/09/2005 9:29:45 AM PDT by NormsRevenge
Political theorist Benjamin Barber, actor Warren Beatty, columnist Maureen Dowd, rock critic Greil Marcus, and San Francisco Mayor Gavin Newsom are among the speakers at this year's graduation ceremonies at the University of California, Berkeley.
The Class of 2005 selected Barber as the keynote speaker for Commencement Convocation, to be held at 4 p.m. on Wednesday at the Greek Theatre. He is a Professor of Civil Society at the University of Maryland and founder of The Democracy Collaborative, a nonprofit think tank.
Barber, who has lectured frequently at UC-Berkeley over the years, said he plans to address the role of young people in a world of increasing interdependence and the role of the youth market in the infantilization of global consumers.
UC-Berkeley Chancellor Robert Birgeneau will give his first commencement address at the ceremony, and a check will be presented to Birgeneau with the final total of the 2005 Senior Class Gift.
The graduates will also hear from the top graduating senior, history major Alejandra Dubcovsky. She will receive the coveted University Medal at the event for her academic work analyzing slave letters and for other outstanding accomplishments.
Diplomas are not awarded at Commencement Convocation itself. They will be handed out at individual graduation ceremonies held from May 11 to 23 at UC-Berkeley's 50 schools, colleges and departments.
Many of the upcoming individual ceremonies are drawing nationally known figures to speak.
They include
Wednesday, May 11: Maria Mavroudi, UC Berkeley history professor and recipient of a 2004 MacArthur ''genius'' fellowship, Department of Near Eastern Studies, 2 p.m., Lipman Room, Barrows Hall.
Saturday, May 14: San Francisco Mayor Gavin Newsom, School of Law (Boalt Hall), 9 a.m., Greek Theatre. New York Times columnist Maureen Dowd, Graduate School of Journalism, noon, North Gate Hall's courtyard.
Thursday, May 19: William Dudley, chief economist for Goldman Sachs, Economics Department, 2 p.m., Greek Theatre.
Friday, May 20: Phil Bronstein, editor of the San Francisco Chronicle, Undergraduate & Interdisciplinary Studies, 9 a.m., Greek Theatre. California State Controller Steve Westly, Department of Political Science, 2 p.m., Greek Theatre. Nobelist David Gross, combined ceremony for Department of Physics and Astronomy Department, 7 p.m., Zellerbach Hall.
Saturday, May 21: Google Chief Executive Officer Eric Schmidt, College of Engineering, 8:30 a.m., Greek Theatre. Robert Reich, former U.S. labor secretary, Department of Sociology, 8:45 a.m., Zellerbach Hall. Actor Warren Beatty, Goldman School of Public Policy, 10 a.m., Faculty Glade. Rock critic Greil Marcus, combined ceremony for Film Studies program and Department of Rhetoric, 2 p.m., Zellerbach Hall.
Sunday, May 22: Venture capitalist John Doerr, Haas School of Business' MBA graduates, 2 p.m., Greek Theatre.
I wonder how much do theorists make a year?
There is a correaltion between the reputation of the school and it's commencment speakers.
Wow, Beatty! So much gravitas!!!
At UC Berkley, Maureen Dowd is the token conservative speaker.
Sounds like the only one missing is Ronald MacDonald
It appears that Gavin Newsome will speak before the Boalt School of Law graduates. Wonder if his topic is the "rule of law?"
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