Posted on 02/20/2002 12:56:25 PM PST by vannrox
DAILY BRUIN ONLINE - Wednesday, February 20, 2002
Students protest Bush speaking at commencement
GRADUATION: Credentials and politics of first lady criticized; critics want invitation recalled
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| First lady Laura Bush (middle) talks with Japanese Emperor Akihito (right) | ||
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Despite being 3,000 miles away, Laura Bush fueled debate between administrators and students who objected to the possibility of having the first lady speak at this year's commencement ceremony.
Students in the Graduate School of Education & Information Studies met with Dean Aimee Dorr on Friday to demand that she rescind the invitation to Bush.
Critics cited Bush's "shallow credentials" and complained they were not allowed to participate in the selection of their commencement speaker.
"We're disappointed that the selection for a student event had no student input," said Estela Zarate, a doctoral student in education.
The dean is usually the one who formally invites commencement speakers. In this case, Chancellor Albert Carnesale sent the invitation because it is general practice for the chancellor to do so when the university contacts the heads of state.
Carnesale, who sent off the invitation in early February under the recommendation of the school, said Tuesday that "it is extremely unlikely" he would rescind the invitation.
"She seems to me to be an entirely appropriate speaker," Carnesale said of Bush, a former teacher, librarian and current education advocate.
"Having had a career in education and information studies, she's been dedicated to those areas, as has been demonstrated by her actions," he added.
Dorr said she selected five candidates to speak – of which Bush is ranked first – based on discussions with the school's faculty executive committee, which is comprised of department leaders and two student representatives. The committee serves an advisory function to the dean.
The other four candidates were not disclosed.
"I'm really sorry there is this much agitation," Dorr said Friday, promising to increase student involvement in future selections.
Many students warned Dorr of the political implications of inviting Bush to speak at the commencement.
"She was selected for her political celebrity," said Tara Watford, a doctoral student in education.
"The commencement speaker should speak to us based on achievements in the field," she said. "(Bush) has no merit."
Watford then read a quote in which Bush allegedly admitted to becoming a librarian to expand her dating circle.
Bush's advocacy for early literacy and her efforts to combine education and librarianship make her a suitable candidate to speak at commencement, Dorr said. She also said having Bush speak would help the department become more well known.
"It's a way to have students and the school more visible," Dorr said.
Students don't necessarily have to agree with the political views of the commencement speaker, Dorr said.
"Campus has to be a place where people of different views can speak," she said. "The ceremony involves a lot of people and has to work for a lot of people."
Whenever the university invites a speaker in a political position, some students are bound to disagree, Carnesale said.
"That is not a reason to exclude somebody from speaking," he said.
But, some say, a commencement is not the right forum for Bush to speak, since she will get the last word.
Having Bush speak at the department's commencement would also incur extra costs.
According to John Bollard, director of student services for GSE&IS, preliminary figures he received from the Secret Service indicated an additional $55,000 would need to be spent on top of normal commencement expenses. The extra cost would pay for increased security and a press room.
Though Bush has been invited to speak, it is not definite she will accept.
"We all see it as a long shot," Dorr said.
After the meeting, Zarate said she hopes students in the department will protest the invitation and the appearance should Bush accept.
"We will not stand by and allow her presence to go uncontested," Zarate said.
With reports from Linh Tat, Daily Bruin Senior Staff.
Please read this slowly and get help from your mommy with the Big words!
"The garage is at the rear of the house. Close the door and turn on the car."
These ridiculous schools are a long-standing fraud and a public menace. I don't recall the guy's name, but the president of Harvard was asked in the mid-1930's what single action could be taken to improve academic standards at the university. His response: "Wrap the entire faculty of the School of Education in a burlap sack and drown them en masse in the Charles River."
Probably VERY few. When I was at UCLA almost the entire student body in the Graduate School of Education were adults, and they attended class mostly evenings and weekends. They may have been politically liberal, but they were much too busy making a living to engage in this sort of crap. They just wanted to finish up and get out of there, so did not engage in any politikking.
While I'm sympathetic to criticism of any "soft science", of which Education is only one, it is an amateurish generalization to call their intent (thus their degrees) "pointless". That is simply not true. Many other criticisms may apply, but "pointless" is not one of them.
The point of Graduate Study in Education is the imrovement of the quality of Education. There is nothing as sad as watching an "expert" who has no idea how to teach, trying to teach. It can be a disaster for the students. The question is, can his teaching quality be significantly improved. In too many cases, unfortunately, I think not.
1) - Speak at UCLA and prove how gracious she is as First Lady of the United States of America.
or
2) - Speak at a University where the gracious students would Welcome out First Lady.<>PAll this other diatribe about cutting funding to public schools and armchair stuff is unralistic. Too much "wishing" here, and not enough realistic alternatives and/or answers.
Yes, it was Wellesley, and they didn't want Barbara Bush to speak, because all she ever did was stay home, be a good wife, and raise a family..........how disgraceful! LOL! All she did was raise a President and Governor, and a family filled with love and respect for each other, and for other people!
Incidentally, she did win their hearts over with the wit and charm that you refer to, and Laura will do the same (if she decides to go)!
I don't know where the information comes from, but StayoutdaBushesWay posted the following on a duplicate thread in this message:
1997Basketball great Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, 1988 presidential candidate Michael Dukakis, civil rights leader Jesse Jackson and other prominent figures from the worlds of academia, science and entertainment are among the speakers addressing nearly 9,500 UCLA graduates during this year's commencement season.
1998
U.S. Secretary of Education Richard W. Riley, State Assembly Speaker Antonio Villaraigosa, film director John Frankenheimer and other notables from the worlds of academia, politics, medicine and science are among the speakers addressing UCLA graduates this commencement season.
2000
State Controller Kathleen Connell; actors Rob Reiner and Paul Reiser; Henry Cisneros, president of Univision; Alfred Berkeley, president of Nasdaq; award-winning author Frank McCourt; and other notables from the worlds of business, academia, politics, medicine and science are among the speakers addressing UCLA graduates this commencement season. Rob Reiner will receive the UCLA Medal, the university's highest honor
2001
Actor Michael J. Fox; Dolores Huerta, co-founder of the United Farm Workers; Gary Winnick, founder and chairman of Global Crossing Ltd.; Angela Oh, attorney; Randy Newman, composer and recording artist; and Oscar-award winning actress Eva Marie Saint are among the notables from the worlds of business, academia, politics, medicine and science addressing UCLA graduates this commencement season.
Estella Zarate is currently pursuing a Ph. D. in Education at UCLA. Her research interests include college access for students of color:
mezarate@hotmail.com
Tara Watford, no information:
twatford@ucla.edu
Have fun!
Dear Ms. Zarate & Ms. Watford:Let me guess...your philosophy? Free speech for all--as long as they agree with you?
Honestly, don't you think that the presence of the First Lady of the United States of America--particularly one with a strong education background--at a commencement ceremony would be an honor for any university in this or most any other country?
Say nothing of her educational background, Laura Bush enjoys a unique and very rare view of the world. Her perspective would be valued, appreciated, welcomed and dare I say -- obvious to most thinking individuals regardless of their politics.
Tolerance goes both ways babe!
Matt
San Francisco, CA
PS--You are aware that Michael J. Fox, the actor, spoke last year?
Also heheh don't ya just love the one e-mail address?
twatford@ucla.edu? What kind of a vehicle is a TWATford anyhow?(he he he) ;-D
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