In response to the previously mentioned editorial , I wrote a "Letter to the Editor." I don't know if it will get published or not, but I wanted people to read it anyway:
"Thank you for writing the staff editorial in this week’s (April 16th) issue of the Scout regarding the change that Bradley administrators have unjustly made to selecting the student commencement speaker.
I am writing not in an effort to be considered as a speaker, but simply to echo the displeasure with the changes. Without reporting from The Scout, I would have had no idea that the selection has become a closed process. Bradley seniors, myself included, received no emails about the change or how the administration has handled the selection process.
I’ve noticed a contradiction in the university’s openness in announcing Nancy Brinker as the keynote speaker at graduation compared to their secretive nature about selecting a student to speak. In last week’s article “Selection changes for student graduation speaker,” article, senior Ben Koch states that “the changes go against what graduation really is.” Koch is completely right. Koch and any senior who wishes to audition should be afforded the right to audition to speak.
It is incorrect for Dr. Galsky and the student affairs department to treat the selection of the student commencement speaker as an award. Instead of picking the best speech, they are now picking from a select group to be considered. Unless this changes, the university has probably stopped the best speech before it had a chance to begin. Perhaps we missed an inspiring speech from a single mom who balanced school work with raising a child, or from someone who grew up in poverty and became the first in their family to graduate college. Maybe we have missed a speech from Koch or numerous seniors who just wanted to audition.
Every person in the Class of 2010 will have the same status, as a college graduate. On May 15th, we will all be wearing black caps and gowns and be receiving bachelor’s degrees, regardless of major, GPA, or campus involvement. Everyone deserves their speech considered, and hopefully that will be the case. According to last week’s article, the speaker may have been selected already. Even if the speaker has been selected, the university can still make this right. Graduation should include a second student speaker to talk for five minutes.
There is still enough time to expedite this process and allow any senior the chance to audition. Regardless of what happens, the university should be open about the student commencement speaker selection process.
Aaron Friedman
Senior
Electronic Media and History Major
Well written!
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