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Posted: May 14 2011 01:48 pm

Since I'm graduating from college tomorrow I got to thinking about the commencement speakers. I've heard in the past they have had the CEO of Dunkin' Donuts who is a former Alum, the head of the northeasts largest paper industry and Author Bill McKibben speak at commencement.
Because I went to a school that is influenced by the Adirondack Mountains, and many of the classes I took involved the park itself, the other divisions that that the school has culinary and a hospitality programs; I would think they would get someone in that field to do a speech. What do we get?
Former Governor David Patterson, the guy who tried to shut down countless state parks, hospitals and cut the education budget. In fact, he approved the closing of Camp Gabriels, which is a prison camp that supported the local economy up here. How could they have picked someone so wrong for the college they are speaking at?

So my question is, who was your commencement speaker?

Joined: Aug 04 2009 Posts: 2515

I haven't graduated yet, i dunno if we even get a speaker.

But this is totally relevant:

Conan is a total hero.

Posted: May 14 2011 04:13 pm

Yea if Conan was the speaker at my Graduation I totally would have went. However we had a bunch of people I don't care about and never will care about, hence I didn't attend.

Joined: Mar 13 2009 Location: Arlington Posts: 467

I graduated in 2005 and we had Tom Ridge. He was actually very good. He spoke primarily about public service in things like the Peace Corps etc. I think he got boo'd a few times though.

Wizard Joined: Jun 12 2009 Posts: 4209

I was at baccalaureate today and the guest speaker was some shit head who graduated from the same school in '71. Not very eloquent: said some shit about building bridges. For 45 minutes. Jokes were made.

Posted: May 15 2011 10:01 pm

Last year when I graduated from CMU, they had it in the football stadium in May. Which is fine, except for the part when it was 35 degrees and hailing. And the speaker was some international business man, whom the only thing I remember about was when he announced he had his final thought and everyone hooted and hollared.

Posted: May 16 2011 02:13 am

Alowishus wrote:

Conan is a total hero.

I also liked his High School graduation speech:

(no embedding)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Wi4-1d9DB9Q

Joined: Dec 06 2007 Location: Connecticut Posts: 11244

I will probably not graduate from college in my lifetime, 10 years out and no incentive to finish another 3 years, it is most likely not happening. At this point, if i did, I sure as hell wouldn't go to the graduation. Still, it is an interesting question because I have worked at Universities for the last 8 years. While I have personally never stayed for commencement, I have always been invited, and the speakers have ranged from comedians and actors to ex-presidents.

If I get wind that a member of GNR will be giving the speech, I'll be there.

Joined: Mar 08 2011 Location: Ohio Posts: 131

We had a popular Cincinnati Judge, but his opinions were pretty terrible, the speech itself lasted half an hour and was absolutely the worst and most boring part.

Posted: May 16 2011 01:33 pm

We had a local businessman that did not even attend the school I graduated from speak. He may have been all they could get since it was a summer graduation.

Congratulations on graduating, btw.

Posted: May 16 2011 02:59 pm

Drew Linky wrote:

I was at baccalaureate today and the guest speaker was some shit head who graduated from the same school in '71. Not very eloquent: said some shit about building bridges. For 45 minutes. Jokes were made.

How the heck can you talk about bridges for 45 minutes?!?