-Caveat Lector- }}}>Begin 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 By Robert Salonga The Associated Press First lady Laura Bush (middle) talks with Japanese Emperor Akihito (right) Daily Bruin Staff 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 representative s. 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. Th e 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. Author: Robert Salonga Web Address: http://www.dailybruin.ucla.edu/db/articles.asp?ID=18521 Copyright 2002 ASUCLA Student Media End<{{{ ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Forwarded as information only; no endorsement to be presumed + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + In accordance with Title 17 U.S.C. section 107, this material is distributed without charge or profit to those who have expressed a prior interest in receiving this type of information for non-profit research and educational purposes only. + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + The only real voyage of discovery consists not in seeking new landscapes but in having new eyes. -Marcel Proust + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + "Do not believe in anything simply because you have heard it. Do not believe simply because it has been handed down for many generations. Do not believe in anything simply because it is spoken and rumored by many. 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