Despite rumors circulating around campus and on the Internet, Penn administration confirmed earlier today that the 2008 Commencement Speaker will not be Emeril Lagasse.
"I have no idea how that rumor started," said University Secretary Leslie Kruhly, said.
Kruhly added that the Trustee Committee on Honorary Degrees - the group which normally decides the Commencement speaker - will release the name of the actual Commencement speaker in the upcoming two to three weeks.
False rumors about Penn's anticipated graduation speaker circulated via mass e-mails to the Penn community and online blogs like IvyGate.
In one e-mail shared last night, a fake commencement flyer was attached that advertised renowned chef Lagasse as the speaker for graduation ceremonies.
This rumor was then passed on to Ivygate, a student blog for the Ivy leagues, and reported as fact on their site.
The Speaker Advisory Committee - which includes various student leaders from the Senior Class Board, the Undergraduate Assembly, United Minority Council and Graduate Student Government as well as faculty - submitted recommendations for speakers months ago and the Trustee Committee has already made the final decision.
Administration is waiting to announce the speaker since doing so too early would "lose some of it's timeliness and news interest," according to Kruhly.
