L.A. Times - Peter Hong and Jessica Gresko (and a photographer)Here is a SHORT (and surprisingly balanced!) EXCERPT from the L.A. Times:
Pomp and Conflicting Stances
Crowd reaction is mixed as the governor stresses the importance of community colleges in commencement address in Santa Monica.
By Peter Hong and Jessica Gresko, Times Staff WritersGraduating students mostly cheered, but some audience members booed Tuesday as Arnold Schwarzenegger returned to one of his alma maters, Santa Monica College, to deliver his first commencement address as governor of California...-- snip --
...The cheers and boos were mixed as Randal Lawson, the college's executive vice president, introduced the governor.
Applause prevailed when Lawson began naming Schwarzenegger's films, especially "The Terminator."
But catcalls and jeers grew louder when Lawson mentioned Schwarzenegger's election as governor.
Schwarzenegger wore a black academic gown but no cap, with an orange cowl, signifying his business degree, draped across his shoulders.
A clear split emerged between the graduates — who gave him two standing ovations — and the larger audience behind them.When Schwarzenegger said it had been an honor to attend Santa Monica College because "no one in my family attended college, no one even graduated from high school," the graduates applauded enthusiastically.
But several faculty members turned their backs on the governor.
When some audience members blew whistles and screamed in protest, many graduates turned and held fingers to their mouths or said, "Be quiet."-- snip --
...Before the ceremonies, about 100 demonstrators who were protesting the governor's appearance gathered at the entrance to the lot where those attending the graduation parked...
-- snip --
...About 20 demonstrators supported the governor.
"He is an alumnus of the school. He's a great role model. He has been very successful in business and in entertainment and in politics. And we hope people will stay focused on that," said Ben Eisenberg, an economics major at the school and president of the campus Republican group...-- snip --
..."I'm kind of annoyed by the whole thing," said graduating film major Greg Klein. "I'm trying to get my diploma."
"I'm definitely against the protests," said graduate Dina Cervantes, this school year's student representative on the college's Board of Trustees.
"The students worked really hard to get to this day."
While we won the battle OUTSIDE...SANTA MONCIA - Tuesday, June 14, 2005 The governor of California was basically booed off stage during a commencement address to graduating students at Santa Monica College today.http://la.indymedia.org/images/Boos4Arnold.mov (6.37 Mb)
Boos, and chants continued non-stop through out the gov’s speech.
...things do not appear to have gone very well INSIDE the stadium. :(Perhaps the video by OUR guy (Jeffers Dodge) will show what actually happened more accurately.
We should have THAT video posted online -- soon.