Early start eases speaker selection

With hopes of increasing student input and enthusiasm, a committee of faculty and students already has begun discussing Commencement events for the class of 2006.

After students voiced concerns regarding the lack of input on the selection of this year’s speaker, members of the Commencement Speaker Advisory Committee met Monday to begin ironing out the details for next year’s event.

Monday’s discussion, which was conducted during a closed meeting, focused on potential speakers for next year’s address.

Members now are in the brain-storming phase and have yet to make any decisions, said Senior Class President-elect Bobby Whisnant Jr.

“We brought a lot of ideas to the table,” he said, noting the 144 potential speakers already suggested by members of the class of 2006. “All of my suggestions were based off of the suggestions of the senior class.”

Current senior class officers Jovian Irvin and Becca Frucht underscored their concerns with the selection process earlier this year and said changes are necessary to further engage students.

A panel of faculty and student representatives meets annually to propose speakers for the Commencement address. The panel sends its recommendations to Chancellor James Moeser, who ultimately selects the speaker.

The 2005 Commencement speaker is Rev. Peter Gomes, a best-selling author and renowned professor at the Harvard Divinity School.

Frucht said that although steps have been made to include seniors’ opinions in Commencement speaker discussions, students often think the ceremony is not for them as a class.

She said many reforms have been initiated to gather more student input, including an early start to the speaker selection meetings.

“The fact that they have increased the amount of time that the committee needs shows that change,” she said.

Next year’s senior class officers are taking measures to solicit student opinions and better inform them of qualifications for Commencement speakers.

In addition to the Commencement ceremony, Whisnant also has plans to hold a Senior Celebration that will include senior awards and performances.

“I want seniors to leave campus feeling like there was a program that highlighted their four years here,” he said.

The event is a continuation of the Senior Address implemented this year to provide students with their own ceremony. Mo Rocca, of “The Daily Show” fame, will give this address in Polk Place on May 13.

“We wanted to add a celebratory event that would be student-focused and would reward the seniors for four years of great work,” Frucht said.

“Mo represents college humor very well,” she said. “He has a big enough name that people will be excited to hear him speak.”

Officials said they hope that next year’s seniors will look forward to the Commencement speech and senior events as a culmination of their years spent at UNC.

“It is a celebration of all the University since the very first day that the University opened,” said Judith Wegner, chairwoman of the faculty and a committee member.

Contact the University Editor at udesk@unc.edu.