UN chief to deliver address

University President Lee Bollinger has recommended four honorary degree recipients to be approved by the University Board of Regents at its March meeting, scheduled for Thursday and Friday.

The recipients for this spring's honorary degree awards include Kofi Annan, the secretary-general of the United Nations; Aharon Barak, chief justice of the Supreme Court of Israel; Shirley Malcolm, director for education and human resources at the American Association for the Advancement of Science; and Pramoedya Anata Toer, an Indonesian author.

Annan is scheduled to deliver the keynote speech at the 1999 spring commencement ceremony, pending regents' approval, according to members of the University administration. The commencement speaker will be officially announced at the board meeting.

"The commencement speaker is traditionally someone who receives an honorary degree," said University spokesperson Julie Peterson, adding that the speaker is likely to be officially announced at the regents' meeting tomorrow.

Previous spring commencement speakers include Bollinger, Hillary Rodham Clinton, Johnetta Cole, the first female president of Spelman College and Mamphela Ramphele, vice chancellor of the University of Cape Town, South Africa.

"I think it's nice to have someone who has an influence on the world, not just our country," LSA senior Ian Shainbrown said, adding that he is pleased with the choice for speaker because "it shows we're a world-class school."

Other students expressed amazement at the University's ability to attract such a prominent world leader.

Business senior Brian Kristofic said the University's extending an invitation to leaders like Annan to come to the campus is an illustration of the University's growing concerns abroad.

"It shows how important international issues are to the campus," Kristofic said.

Annan, a national of Ghana, has had three decades of experience with the UN and successfully negotiated several diplomatic agreements, including the release of hostages held in Iraq following its invasion of Kuwait in 1990.

Annan is credited with building the UN's readiness for peace-keeping readiness and response time. As of June 1997, more than 66 member states have agreed to follow Annan's lead.

"We need to encourage Member States to develop the sustained will to support the organization," Annan said at a press conference following his appointment.

Annan studied in Ghana, but completed undergraduate work in economics at Macalester College in St. Paul, Minn., where he is currently a Board of Trustees member. During the early '70s, Annan received a Master of Science degree in Management. He also serves on the Board of Trustees of the Institute for the Future in Menlo Park, Calif..

03-17-99