 "Photo: <em>New York Times</em>/Fred Conrad")
On March 24, university President Patrick Harker announced Thomas L. Friedman will serve as this year's commencement speaker.
Friedman, a three-time Pulitzer Prize winner, writes the foreign affairs column for The New York Times and has authored a number of critically-acclaimed books about the environment and international relations, most recently "Hot, Flat and Crowded: Why We Need a Green Revolution - and How it Can Renew America," which was released this September.
In a UDaily article published on March 26, Harker expressed excitement about Friedman's role as the keynote speaker at the university's 160th commencement celebration.
"Thomas Friedman is one of the most respected journalists of this generation and we are delighted that he has accepted our invitation to address Delaware graduates, their families and friends at the 2009 Commencement exercises," Harker said. "Friedman is exceptionally adept at taking complex issues and making them comprehensible."
Pierre Hayward, vice president and university secretary, emphasized the fact that Friedman's interest in environmental activism aligns with many initiatives currently underway at the university, such as the purchasing of solar panels as the 2009 senior class gift.
Hayward said in choosing a commencement speaker, there are a number of goals the university attempts to achieve. Hayward said the speaker should accomplish the following objectives: create excitement on campus, be someone capable of giving thought-provoking speech, be someone students are interested in hearing and lastly, be someone who has a topical relevance to the university campus.
Hayward said Friedman met all these criteria, so therefore was the top choice for commencement speaker.
"There was no question that if we could get Tom Friedman, we would have accomplished every goal we set out to achieve," Hayward said.
Hayward said the search for a commencement speaker began in the fall. Members of the administration, faculty and various student groups supplied input for who they would like to see as the keynote speaker.
In October 2008, the list was presented at a Trustee Committee Meeting, an assembly attended by the Board of Trustees, students and faculty, to discuss possible honorary degree recipients and commencement speakers. At the meeting, the group decided the university should attempt to secure Friedman as a speaker.
Hayward declined to comment on who else was being considered as a possible commencement speaker but confirmed the university's top choice was Friedman.
He would also not comment on whether or not Friedman will be paid, but according to Vanity Fair, Friedman earns approximately $50,000 per speaking engagement.
Haywood said although he is not sure what Friedman will speak about, he shared information with Friedman about the university's Path to Prominence and the 2009 senior class gift.
"I don't know exactly what he's going to talk about, but I would certainly think it's going to encompass his passion for the environment," Hayward said.
He said since the announcement, the university has received "tremendous" feedback.
Neeloo Bhatti-McAndrew said that as assistant director of the UD Energy Institute, she is particularly interested in Friedman's view on energy policy.
"He has indicated that the United States needs to become much more energy independent and that we should lead the world in the development of environmentally sustainable technologies," Bhatti-McAndrew said. "This, in his opinion, will make us more economically and environmentally stable and help reduce our dependence on countries that support terrorism."
She said these arguments hold a special significance at the university since it has become involved in the search for environmentally-conscious forms of energy.
"He has stated that, in the energy arena, this requires us to develop all forms of our energy resources, including renewable, such as solar, wind, geothermal and biofuels, as well as find ways to burn conventional fuels more cleanly and to develop new technologies such as fusion," Bhatti-McAndrew said. "It appears that many of Mr. Friedman's writings and views on energy policy align with the missions and goals of the UD Energy Institute."
Senior and SGA President Teagan Gregory said he believes Friedman, one of his favorite authors, is an excellent choice because he relates to the university on a number of levels.
"I think it goes along perfectly with what UD is trying to do: all the sustainability initiatives, the new international focus, the Path to Prominence," Gregory said. "I think it goes along with a lot of goals that the university has and I'm excited to have a person as accomplished as him as our graduation speaker."
He said for those students who may not be familiar with Friedman or his works, it won't be difficult to get acquainted with the author before his May 30 speech.
"Turn on a TV," Gregory said. "Pick up a newspaper. Read a book. He's everywhere, especially right now because what he writes on and what he's done his work on is particularly relevant. You really can't miss him. He's everywhere right now.
"If nothing else, that's what you can get excited about - that everybody wants him right now and he's coming to our school to be our graduation speaker."
Friedman is currently traveling and could not be reached for comment.
Follow us on Twitter
Subscribe to our feed
Contact us through email
Be the first to comment on this article!