Graduation speakers set to address seniors

All but one of the University's schools have announced their speakers for this year's Commencement. While the entire Class of 2001 will hear Arizona Sen. John McCain speak at the main ceremony, most of the individual schools will have their own speakers for their smaller, separate graduation ceremonies. Now, with the exception of the graduate division of the School of Arts and Sciences, all of Penn's graduate and undergraduate schools have made public their choices for graduation speakers. The list of speakers includes some very impressive names, such as Nobel Laureate Michael Brown, who will address the Medical School, and Harvard President Emeritus Derek Bok, who will speak to the Law School graduates. According to Sarah Gordon, a professor in the Law School, Bok will be an effective speaker because of his experiences as a college president, scholar and one of the country's top legal experts. "He has been a chair of the board of Common Cause, which has been deeply involved in campaign finance reform," Gordon said. But perhaps the most recognizable name for the individual school ceremonies is Philadelphia Mayor John Street. Street has agreed to speak at the Graduate School of Fine Arts ceremony. But some of this year's speakers also come from within the University. Penn Political Science Professor John DiIulio will address the School of Social Work. DiIulio, one of the foremost scholars of American politics, has received national attention recently after he was named director of the controversial White House Office of Faith-Based and Community Initiatives. According to Jack Nagel, chairman of the Political Science Department, DiIulio's experience with and research on faith-based community programs will make him an excellent speaker for the School of Social Work. "He's worked very closely with Professor Ram Cnaan on research on the influence of churches and other faith-based institutions in cities, particularly in Philadelphia," Nagel said. Oliver C. Boileau Jr., a Penn alumnus and former president and chief operating officer of the Northrup Grumman Corporation, will address the School of Engineering and Applied Sciences. Claire Fagin, dean and professor Emeritus at the Nursing School, will address graduates at the School of Nursing ceremony. The School of Arts and Sciences' ceremony will feature Democratic Congressman Harold Ford Jr., a 1992 College graduate. According to SAS Dean Samuel Preston, Ford's age is one of his main strengths as a speaker. "I think younger speakers tend to connect better with our graduates," Preston said. Furthermore, Preston said that Ford is a role model for College graduates. "He represents a model for students in the College," Preston said. "He's a very young alum who has already made an important contribution politically." With the exception of Aaron Karo, a Wharton senior who will address the Wharton undergraduates, Ford is this year's youngest speaker. Wharton traditionally has a student speaker for its undergraduate class. Karo is the writer of the popular e-mail newsletter "Ruminations on College Life," a collection of witty anecdotes that has a readership of over 10,000, including Microsoft Founder Bill Gates.