Race for Chads or Fad? Presidents Speaking to Grads - Bill Clinton at RIT on May 25

Former President William J. Clinton Presents Commencement Address at Rochester Institute of Technology in Rochester, New York on May 25, 2007.

Do more high-profile politicians speak at college graduations during election years, or do we just notice them more? Amidst a flurry of presentations this May at university commencement ceremonies across the country by the likes of President Bush, President hopeful Barack Obama, and former House Speaker Newt Gingrich, the former President Bill Clinton will be doing the honors for the graduating class at RIT in New York this May 25. American Chronicle will be covering the event.

So how does the esteemed Rochester Institute of Technology, enjoying it’s 175th year, nab a US President for it’s ceremony?

We asked Paul Stella, Director of University News for RIT.

June: First, congratulations to your graduating class… and on a wonderful speaker, witty, intelligent and controversial, Bill Clinton! How do you select a speaker?

Paul: Selection of the commencement speaker is the responsibility of our university's president, Dr. Albert Simone. RIT does not pay its commencement speakers, so President Simone relies on his personal and professional contacts as a way to identify and approach potential speakers. In the case of President Clinton, RIT trustee B. Thomas Golisano made the request on behalf of President Simone. Mr. Golisano has a friendship with the former U.S. president resulting from their affiliation through the William Jefferson Clinton Foundation.

June: Do the students have a say on who the speaker is?

Paul: While President Simone vets his chose for commencement speaker with members of various university governance groups, including Student Government, it is ultimately President Simone's decision.

June: How is political debate a part of the culture of your University?

Paul: Respectful debate concerning political issues is encouraged. However, President Clinton's visit to RIT is not intended as a political visit. He is here merely to address our graduates.

June: The hearing challenged department of your University is world class. Why don't more University's support this important sector of our country?

Paul: It's much more than a department. The National Technical Institute for the Deaf is one of eight colleges at RIT. You can read more about NTID and it's history at its Web site, http://www.ntid.rit.edu. President Lyndon Johnson signed the National Technical Institute for the Deaf Act into law in 1965, which provided for the establishment and operation of a coeducational, postsecondary institute for technical education of persons who are deaf or hard-of-hearing. A year later, RIT was selected as the sponsoring institution.