Treasury Sec. Rubin to talk to 1999 grads

New Orleans Mayor Marc Morial will address College students to head the list of featured school speakers. In addition to the thousands of students, parents, relatives and administrators expected to attend this weekend's various graduation ceremonies, notable guests include a member of President Clinton's cabinet, a big-city mayor and a world-famous professional tennis player. Robert Rubin, secretary of the U.S. Treasury, will speak at the University's 243rd annual Commencement -- the most heavily attended and only University-wide graduation ceremony -- scheduled for Monday at 9:30 a.m. on Franklin Field. Rubin's appearance at Penn comes after he announced on Wednesday that he would resign from his Cabinet position, effective July 4. University spokesperson Ken Wildes said Rubin's resignation makes "absolutely no difference" in the University's plans to host the eminent businessperson and bears no effect on his reputation as a polished speaker. Wildes did, however, predict that Rubin's presence -- in the wake of Wednesday's announcement -- would garner significant national coverage. "We will probably have more attention paid to our Commencement than we would ordinarily," Wildes said. Speaking at the College of Arts and Sciences' graduation ceremony -- which will take place Sunday at 7 p.m. on Franklin Field -- is New Orleans Mayor Marc Morial, a University alumnus dubbed by School of Arts and Sciences spokesperson Elaine Wilner as a "very impressive person" who is "doing some really interesting things." Morial, who has already addressed Penn students twice this year, has gained fame recently as one of two big-city mayors suing gun makers for the public costs of gun-related violence. He will be joined on the podium by College senior Josh Styne, a member of the Mask and Wig Club and Sphinx Senior Honor Society. Gerald Wolpe, who has served as senior rabbi of Har Zion Temple in Philadelphia for more than 30 years, will be the featured speaker at the University's multi-faith Baccalaureate ceremony on Sunday. The ceremony -- which takes place at 3 p.m. at the First District Plaza, located at 3801 Market Street -- is a nondenominational program honoring the graduating class with music, readings and prayers. Andrea Mitchell, a University Trustee and chief foreign affairs correspondent for NBC, delivered the address last year before an audience of approximately 1,000 people. Wharton senior Emily Bogdanoff will speak at the Wharton undergraduate graduation ceremony on Sunday at 9 a.m. on Franklin Field. Later that day, at 1:30 p.m., the chief executive officer of First Union Corporation, Edward Crutchfield, will address the Wharton graduate program graduation ceremony, also on Franklin Field. Outgoing Wharton Dean Thomas Gerrity will address doctoral degree recipients later that day at 5:30 p.m. in the University Museum's Upper Egyptian Gallery. Eduardo Glandt, the School of Engineering and Applied Sciences' interim dean, will address the Engineering graduates in a ceremony scheduled for Monday at 1 p.m. in the Palestra. Michael Zisman, vice president for strategy at Lotus Development Corporation, will speak at the Engineering doctoral ceremony on Sunday at 5 p.m. in the Harrison Auditorium, located inside the University Museum. Yvonne Mokgoro, a justice on the Constitutional Court of South Africa, and Honorary Fellow Andre Dennis will speak at the Law School's graduation Sunday at 2 p.m. And Kenneth Shine, president of the Institute of Medicine in the National Academy of Sciences, will speak at the Medical School's graduation on Sunday night at 7 p.m. In addition to Rubin, other honorary degree recipients this weekend include scientist Isabella Lugoski Karle, legendary women's tennis player Billie Jean King, noted female historian Gerda Lerner and Earl Stadtman, a pioneer in the field of enzyme regulation.