Earlier this month, President Shirley Ann Jackson announced Hillary Rodham Clinton, one of New York state’s two U.S. Senators, as the speaker for the 2005 commencement ceremony. Since then, some people have expressed displeasure with the choice and the process through which the speaker was selected.
Senior Class President Roberto Tedesco ’05 said that Matt Newman ’05 drafted a letter to President Jackson regarding the choice of Clinton. The letter stated that Clinton was a “divisive political figure” and called on the administration to reconsider their choice of a speaker. The Senior Class Council did not choose to support his letter, but Newman said he will be sending the letter to Jackson as an individual.
The Student Senate had also considered a motion concerning the speaker, but the motion was withdrawn. Senator Peter Naccarato III ’05 explained, “At first, I supported a Senate motion to express discontent, as there are a number of issues that I felt needed to be addressed by a representative body—but due to the ’05 class council’s response, I feel that any further motion is unneeded.”
Tedesco said that he has received comments supporting the choice and others that did not favor Clinton speaking. He explained, “we wanted someone who would bring everyone together,” but added that the council was now more concerned about the selection process than the individual chosen.
The senior class president planned to meet with Cynthia McIntyre, RPI’s chief of staff, who also chairs the Presidential Committee on Honors, this Wednesday. He said that the council was concerned about all of the work that was put into the process of selecting a speaker when the final decision was made by someone else.
McIntyre explained that the process for selecting a commencement speaker begins soon after GM Week elections when President Jackson sends a list of suggestions for speakers to the newly elected senior class council. The next step in the process is that the council evaluates that list, making suggestions of their own, and comes up with a list of recommendations for the speaker.
Around the same time frame, nominations for honorary degrees and commencement speakers are also accepted from the RPI community at-large, McIntyre said. The Faculty Committee on Honors then receives the lists from Jackson, the senior class, and the community’s nominees, and researches each of the individuals to assess if their merit warrants an honorary RPI degree.
Once their recommendations have been made, according to McIntyre, they are sent to the Presidential Committee on Honors, which also includes the chair of the Faculty Committee on Honors, the provost, the vice presidents for student life and institute advancement, and the president of the senior class. This group then presents President Jackson with an unranked list of recommendations for both honorary degree recipients and commencement speakers.
Jackson then finalizes a list of recommendations for both speakers and degree recipients to send to the Board of Trustees. After the lists are approved, the availability of the possible speakers is then looked into, and the process continues from there. McIntyre pointed out that in many cases, other colleges are also trying to attract the same people for their own commencements.
Tedesco said that the council felt that “all our work went to waste,” and the student voices weren’t really heard on the matter of the speaker since they did not list Clinton as one of their top choices in the list sent to the Faculty Committee on Honors. He said that at this point, he wants to voice the council’s concern about the process so that it could perhaps benefit future classes.
McIntyre said, “We are very, very happy that Senator Clinton has graciously accepted to come and speak to our graduating class this year.” She added that having served as a Senator and first lady, Clinton brings a rather unique perspective, and that her message will not be one of politics, but will be one tailored to graduating students transitioning to the next part of their lives.
Vice President for Student Life Eddie Knowles, who was also a part of the Presidential Committee on Honors said, “In 28 years of service to students at Rensselaer, I have come to value our tradition of appreciating differences while at the same time treating all of our visitors to campus with dignity and respect.” He continued, “It is within that spirit and tradition, that I trust all of us will approach this year’s commencement, even if there is disagreement regarding the choice of Senator Clinton as an honorary degree recipient.”
