By Heather Allen and Bessie King
The date has been announced, the venue has been announced and, now, the name of the 2004 keynote commencement speaker has been announced – but some students are in no hurry to toss their caps in anticipation.
Dr. Richard H. Carmona, the Surgeon General of the United States, will give the commencement address to 2,500 graduates on May 1 at the FleetCenter.
“With all due respect to the Surgeon General, I’m pretty disappointed with the selection for commencement speaker,” said Peter Antonellis, a senior political science major. “I had hoped that the President’s Office would have tried harder to give the seniors something they could really walk away with out of commencement.”
The process for booking a guest speaker starts in the President’s Office and once a speaker is confirmed, the university’s commencement committee and commencement office are notified, said Chair of the Commencement Committee Linda Allen.
President Richard Freeland described Dr. Carmona as a “high-ranking government official who also has an incredible personal story,” and said he is looking forward to the event.
Despite Dr. Carmona’s prestigious title, some students said the announcement leaves much to be desired.
“I would have liked to have seen a bigger name and I think as far as commencement speakers go, Northeastern often gets caught up in tradition, whereas students want their last impression of Northeastern to be associated with someone who can appeal to all students and who is entertaining,” said Stephanie Rav-eling, a senior journalism major and the Student Government Association’s vice president for administration.
Three honorary degrees will also be awarded during the morning ceremony for undergraduates. The recipients include: Gwen Ifill, moderator and managing editor of Washington Week; Steven B. Sample, president of the University of Southern California and Joseph M. Tucci, president and chief executive officer of the EMC Corporation.
As for the afternoon keynote speaker, Ellen Goodman is set to address students from the graduate school, the Lowell Institute and University College.
Goodman is a Pulitzer Prize winner for her nationally syndicated column. Those receiving honorary degrees include: Judah Folkman, pioneering researcher on the mechanism of angiogenesis; Myra and Robert Kraft, president and director and chairman and owner of the New England Patriots and Mark Volpe, managing director of the Boston Symphony Orchestra.
Even though the announcement made some seniors balk, others were easier to please.
“I just want to get out there and get ready to start a new chapter in my life, so I hope the speaker leaves us with a special message we can carry through the future,” said Carmen Quinones, a senior psychology major.
Organizers said they hope students will focus on enjoying their last college days rather than on finding out who the commencement speaker will be.
“I do not remember very well what my speaker said, but I remember that I had a great time in college. If students get involved in life at Northeastern, make friends, contacts and memories, this will make their college days better than anything else,” said Allen, who is also an NU alumna.
“Hopefully, the speaker can remind us that we are going into the ‘real world,’ but it’s nothing to panic over,” said Chris Jackson, a senior art major.
Antonellis argued that students crave a light-hearted speech delivered by an entertainer or a comedian.
“I’m somewhat upset to hear from a high ranking member of the administration that comedians and other celebrities are usually some of the first to get chopped off the commencement speaker list,” he said. “This is supposed to be our day, not another chance for the university to show off its academic reputation.”
Though Dr. Carmona may not be a comedian, he has experienced a great deal in his life and may be able to offer insight to those sitting before him in the audience.
Born and raised in New York City, he dropped out of high school in 1967 to enlist in the U.S. Army. He received his GED while enlisted and became a “combat-decorated Vietnam veteran” according to the United States Department of Health and Human Services’ Web site.
He then went on to attend the Bronx Community College, of the City University of New York, where he received his associate of arts degree. Dr. Carmona then attended the University of California, San Francisco where he earned his Bachelor of Science degree in 1977 and his medical degree in 1979. In 1998, he received his master’s of public health from the University of Arizona.
Antonellis, who was angered by the announcement, said he feels like a true senior now, because he, like many others before him, felt the keynote will give a lackluster speech.
“I do feel like I am a senior. I feel like I’m one of the majority because there is a small minority lucky enough to have had a good commencement speaker,” said Antonellis, who is also SGA’s vice president for student services. “The university is two for two this year — first Springfest and now commencement. What’s next? Our diplomas will be printed on recycled paper?”
However, other students graduating on May 1 said they are not concerned with events or speakers.
“As long as I get my diploma, I’m happy,” said Mayra Ortolaza, a senior psychology major.
