When Penn soon-to-be graduates attend their ceremony in May, they will find themselves looking at a familiar face on the podium, Jon Huntsman, Jr., who was just announced as the speaker for this year’s Commencement.
We respect and admire Huntsman for his distinguished career in public service — currently as ambassador to China and formerly as governor of Utah — and hope he delivers an inspiring and insightful address. But he also has a long record of involvement with Penn, and we wish the University had chosen to bring in new blood.
Students have had the chance to hear Huntsman talk numerous times before. He’s spoken on campus in the past two years, and is an alumnus from a family that has made substantial financial contributions to the school.
Although we appreciate the ambassador’s attachment to his alma mater, graduation is a time to learn something we haven’t heard before. At a time when people are taking their first steps outside of education, there is a benefit to listening to someone from outside the Penn Community.
Penn is a top-tier school academically, and the graduation speaker’s name can be perceived as a reflection of the University’s prestige. Huntsman is certainly well-known and well-accomplished, but his entrenchment in and existing association with Penn make the choice seem lackluster. In future years, we hope the University chooses a speaker from outside the Penn bubble.
