Graduation gab

Instead of inviting politically charged speakers, we prefer these options.

Well, the Spring 2009 Commencement speaker has been named – and he’s no Clarence Thomas. (For those who weren’t here last year or don’t remember, there was quite a stir on campus when the University announced the speaker would be the Supreme Court justice.)

We wish the University would follow the example it set in years past by asking distinguished businessmen or women to deliver words of wisdom at Commencement. In 2004, for example, Dan Amos, the chairman and CEO of Aflac, spoke at the ceremony.

Sure, Rep. Jack Kingston and Clarence Thomas both have achieved a great deal in their respective fields, but we’d prefer not to have such politically charged orators.

The editorial board compiled a list of University alumni and affiliates we’d rather to listen to while sweating in our polyester gowns at 9 in the morning (in no particular order):

- Vince Dooley, former athletic director

- Mark Schlabach, ESPN writer

- Wayne Knight, Newman on “Seinfeld”

- Michael Stipe

- Herschel Walker

- Ryan Seacrest

- Hala Moddelmog, president of Church’s Chicken

- Tom Johnson, retired president, chairman and CEO of CNN

- Danger Mouse

- Kim Basinger

We will say this for Kingston, though – a few years ago, he was the only representative to vote against a resolution congratulating Florida’s football team for its national championship.

Let’s hope that Bulldog pride is evident in Sanford Stadium on May 9.

- Shannon Otto for the editorial board