LETTER: Choice Words

Based on the amount of criticism among my friends and in overheard conversations, I find it hard to believe that more of a response to the selection of Ismail Mohammed as our commencement speaker has not occured. Pehaps it's the ridiculous fear of being labled a racist for expressing one's views -- however, this is not a black-white issue, but one of popularity. People have said that "a black had to be selected this year," but this requirement, if indeed true, is itself racism. I don't see why a representative of a particular ethnicity or race must be selected as the speaker in a given year anyway, but regardless, Justice Mohammed is still a poor choice. If a black had to be selected, why wasn't it someone that a majority of the student population has heard of, such as Thurgood Marshall, Nelson Mandela, Bishop Tutu, Clarance Thomas or Arthur Ashe? In past years we have had Joan Rivers, Barbara Bush and Ted Koppel -- perhaps they have accomplished less, but we have all heard of them. You cannot honestly tell me that this guy is a household name. The argument has been posed that it is not the name that matters, but the message. If this is the case, then why not invite one of our esteemed faculty to deliver the "message?" The very fact that a selection committee exists at all is proof that the popularity and importance of the name does indeed matter. It was also argued that he is important because he will be making history by writing the South African constitution. You have to realize that as of this moment he has not done that. The example was given that the class of 1774 would have made a grave mistake in not selecting Thomas Jefferson as their speaker. At the time, the 31-year-old Jefferson had not yet written the Declaration of Independence, let alone been elected to do so. He was thus in a similar situation -- I don't think the class would have been wrong in being disappointed in the selection of Jefferson. Granted he did go on to do great things, and, if Justice Mohammed does become truly famous, then at that time we should invite him. If you're banking on future accomplishments to justify the current selection, why not have some student speak since we all have that potential? President Hackney said that this was such a coup to get him to come here. That is some accomplishment to get a guy to come speak when he was just here five months ago -- it must have taken a lot of creativity and maneuvering. We could have gooten Anita Hill if we wanted someone who already spoke here, assuming we could still afford her $11,000 "travel expenses." Penn is such a revered institution with tremedous resources -- our only salvation will be if Wharton can come through with a speaker of recognition, and, most likely, more accomplishments. I feel that the selection committee at least owes us an explanation as to how this disaster came about -- maybe most of the student body is just ignorant while the committee is enlightened, or maybe he was the only person available. JEFF STEIN Wharton '92

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