S. African educator to give address

Mamphela Ramphele, vice chancellor of the University of Cape Town in South Africa, will deliver the keynote speech May 2 at the undergraduate Spring Commencement, University officials announced yesterday.

"She's a person who has had a lot of experience and gone through a lot of things fighting apartheid," Education professor emeritus Charles Moody said. "The students and faculty are very honored to have a chance to see her."

Ramphele, who is one of four people nominated to receive honorary degrees during spring commencement exercises, will receive an honorary doctor of laws degree from the University. All four degrees must be approved by the University Board of Regents at its April 21 meeting.

The other nominees include Mary Lowe Good, a former Louisiana State University chemistry professor and former chair of the National Science Board; Edward Said, chair of the doctoral program in comparative literature at Columbia University; and University alumnus Richard Ford, a novelist and short story writer who will be the keynote speaker at the Rackham commencement in Hill Auditorium May 1.

Ramphele was named to her present post in 1996, becoming the first black woman to head a South African university. She is also a social anthropologist and physician.

Ramphele has been an outspoken leader in pre- and post-apartheid effort to create more democratic and racially representative educational institutions in South Africa.

"She is a courageous and outspoken leader in efforts to create more democratic and racially representative institutions in South Africa," said Associate Vice President for University Relations Lisa Baker. "We are very excited that she will be able to join us for commencement."

Many students said they were surprised by the selection of Ramphele as keynote speaker.

LSA senior Mark Berquist said he hoped to be able to recognize the speaker's name.

"I'm a little disappointed," Berquist said. "It seems like the past couple of commencement speakers haven't been that well-known."

Berquist said he does not think Clinton's visit, which commemorates the end of the University's 1997-98 Year of Humanities and Arts, will overshadow the Spring Commencement ceremonies.

"I can't imagine it overshadowing commencement entirely because commencement is such a big deal," Berquist said. "It would just be a little more memorable for students ... if they could say it to somebody on the street" and have the speaker's name recognized.

Shortly after Clinton's visit to the University was announced, some students speculated she might also give the Spring Commencement address, said LSA senior Steven McKinely.

"I know when a lot of people heard Hillary was coming out, then maybe she'll speak at graduation," McKinely said.

McKinely said that while he has not heard of Ramphele, he is sure that she is well-qualified to speak at graduation.

"It's nice to know that she is internationally renown," McKinely said.

LSA senior Jon Black said that having David Satcher, the surgeon general of the United States, speak at the School of Public Health commencement on May 1 at Rackham Auditorium will not detract from the main commencement ceremony.

"Commencement is supposed to be the big deal," Black said. "I'm looking forward to seeing who this woman is and what she has to say."

04-14-98