'U' to name commencement speaker Monday

And the speaker is ...

The University plans to release the name of the spring commencement speaker on Monday, just three weeks before graduation.

The University Board of Regents is scheduled to approve the recommendations of the individuals who will receive honorary degrees at the commencement ceremony at its April 21 meeting.

"We don't want to embarrass somebody by having their name out there six or eight weeks before the regents approve it," said Secretary and Vice President for University Relations Walter Harrison.

The commencement speaker will be selected by University President Lee Bollinger from the group of honorary degree recipients.

LSA senior Aedi Pang said she doesn't mind the late announcement because it makes the speaker more of a surprise.

"It's more important to me not when they announce it, but the quality of the speaker," Pang said.

But Engineering senior Eric Kustarz said he has greater concerns than who will address him and his classmates, such as where he will work after graduation.

"I don't really care," Kustarz said. "I've got bigger and better things to worry about."

Harrison said that in addition to traditionally holding the undergraduate commencement ceremony in Michigan Stadium, students also will receive a pair of "rain" tickets for seating in Crisler Arena in case of inclement weather.

Graduates' relatives and friends will be able to view the ceremony on local cable television or on large video screens in Crisler.

The University will invest about $50,000 in the project, Harrison said.

Last year's spring commencement ceremony was dampened by a heavy downpour.

Harrison said the University received numerous complaints, sparking the creation of alternative viewing options.

Harrison said that in the future, the production costs necessary to offer the alternative viewing will be significantly less because videoboards and a multi-media production facility will be installed in the stadium and Crisler by this fall.

04-10-98