STAFF EDITORIAL: 'Immortelles of perfect pitch'

Irish poet Seamus Heaney will lend an air of literary depth as the main speaker at Pen's 224th Commencement. In recent years, the Commencement address has been given by such universally known figures as Bill Cosby, Tom Brokaw and Jimmy Carter. But while the announcement of Heaney's selection on Monday may have raised some eyebrows across campus, the depth and beauty of his words -- not to mention his eminence in the literary world -- make him a fine choice. When it comes to the selection of a Commencement speaker, some students hold the opinion that after four or more years on this campus, they should be sent out into the world with a speech from a celebrity or newsmaker of the moment. We believe, however, that the measure of a speaker should be the wisdom, eloquence and appropriateness of his or her message. If Heaney's speech reflects the depth, insight and lyricism of the works that earned him the 1995 Nobel Prize in Literature, then he should prove a wonderful selection. In a year of political campaigning and controversy, it would have been easy for the selection committee to invite a big-time guest with a big-time agenda. Instead, Penn took a different path, choosing substance over stardom, and this year's graduates will be left with an enduring message as a result.