The last UNC lecture most students will hear comes at spring Commencement. This year’s speaker is AOL co-founder Steve Case.
Chancellor Holden Thorp announced his selection earlier this week. Case is a fitting choice for Thorp. His chancellorship has been driven by the themes of entrepreneurship and innovation.
However, students want something different.
That isn’t to say that Case hasn’t made significant contributions in his life as an entrepreneur and innovator. His work as an investor and his philanthropic efforts are also noteworthy.
But students have heard the themes of innovation and entrepreneurship time and time again; last year’s speaker, Michael Bloomberg, though entertaining and inspiring for many, was also a poster child for those buzzwords.
Spring Commencement should have been an opportunity to bring a new perspective to campus.
In recent years, the ceremony hosted environmentalists, peace advocates, musicians and the first female secretary of state.
All of those guests brought something unique to the University.
The speech should be a send-off full of wisdom and life lessons as graduates leave Chapel Hill for the “real world” outside the confines of our red bricked heaven.
