When it comes time for commencement this semester, the students of St. Vincent College (SVC) will be having a much different experience than us Setonians.
Our commencement should go off without any problems or hoopla, just as it always has. SVC’s will have helicopters, Secret Service agents, and background checks. This comes with the territory when you have the President of the United States as your commencement speaker.
It’s true, SVC managed to book President George W. Bush as their �07 commencement speaker. Doing so has brought a good deal of controversy and protest within the campus; a student I talked to (who asked to remain anonymous) said that some students are upset that the date of graduation had to be moved – sorry, the leader of the free world has a tight schedule. Others are just angry because it’s President Bush.
I say that these students should consider themselves lucky! They will have the most important leader in the world giving them advice and encouragement.
By Mike Rubino,
Cartoonist/Illustrator
When it comes time for commencement this semester, the students of St. Vincent College (SVC) will be having a much different experience than us Setonians.
Our commencement should go off without any problems or hoopla, just as it always has. SVC’s will have helicopters, Secret Service agents, and background checks. This comes with the territory when you have the President of the United States as your commencement speaker.
It’s true, SVC managed to book President George W. Bush as their �07 commencement speaker. Doing so has brought a good deal of controversy and protest within the campus; a student I talked to (who asked to remain anonymous) said that some students are upset that the date of graduation had to be moved – sorry, the leader of the free world has a tight schedule. Others are just angry because it’s President Bush.
I say that these students should consider themselves lucky! They will have the most important leader in the world giving them advice and encouragement.
Yes, it can be risky bringing a political figure to campus. We all learned that last year when the class of �06 brought �slow bleed� Murtha to commencement so that he could go off on an anti-war tangent.
What were his encouraging remarks to graduates? I have a feeling that President Bush, as with any sitting president, will have the ability to transcend controversy and rhetoric and actually talk about leadership and opportunity. I wouldn’tbe complaining if SHU had a sitting president speak at graduation, whether it was Clinton, Bush, or Carter – I take that back, anyone but Carter.
I am happy to report that our commencement speaker will not be bringing Secret Service agents or protesters. Rather, he�ll be bringing with him tales of regional treasures and local history. The Class of �07 made the excellent choice of inviting Rick Sebak to speak on campus.
Sebak is a producer and host of WQED documentaries that focus on regional, and sometimes national, Americana and history. He’s been nominated for primetime Emmy’s and his work is broadcast on PBS across the country.
I love his documentaries, all of which have frank and curious titles like �Things We�ve Made,� �Stuff That’s Gone,� and �Sandwiches That You Will Like.� He promotes an appreciation of the Pittsburgh area, a region that people usually want to get away from as fast as possible. I am really looking forward to hearing what he has to say about our school, and hopefully he�ll inspire folks to stick in the area.
Rick Sebak has a knack for pointing out the little things in the Pittsburgh area that we truly love, but maybe never notice. He’s got a sentimental attention to detail, and really seems to care about whatever it is he’s talking about – whether it’s an old church or a really popular doughnut shop. Seton Hill University won’thave to worry about folks protesting Sebak, unless there is a disgruntled hot dog shop owner who wants payback.
Sure SVC may have booked the most important commencement speaker in the country, but we got a guy who really likes Pittsburgh. A lot.
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