With fewer than 10 weeks left until graduation, the Class of 2006 will have to wait a little longer to know who will be headlining its commencement ceremony.
The University will release the name of the commencement speaker after Spring Break once administrators have met with the senior class leadership, said University Secretary Allison Haltom.
The timing of the speaker announcement has varied from October to February over the past four years, but administrators dismissed some students' concerns that this year's relatively late announcement is indicative of problems selecting and securing a speaker.
"We think we've got it tied down," said John Burness, senior vice president for public affairs and government relations. "[The timing of the announcement] goes back and forth, partly depending on the speaker and their schedule."
Haltom explained that factors other than actually selecting a speaker have affected the timing of this year's announcement.
"The president decided to wait until after Spring Break so that it would be closer to the time of graduation," Haltom said. "If you look back over the years, it's been late some years and early others."
President Richard Brodhead said he is not looking for a celebrity speaker, but rather a speaker who will tailor a message for Duke and benefit the Class of 2006.
"You are always looking for someone who has lead a life of distinction and accomplishment and someone who will take this occasion seriously," Brodhead said. "I don't want someone who is going to give the same speech at 15 other places."
Brodhead also recently spoke to the advisory committee for the Class of 2007's commencement, encouraging the members to look for certain important qualities in a speaker.
"I told them to keep in mind that although, in advance, it might seem what you want is a famous celebrity, the famous celebrities don't always put in a lot of effort," Brodhead said.
Although administrators stressed that the relatively late announcement is nothing out of the ordinary, other sources reported that officials were unable to finalize a speaker this year from an initial short list of speaker candidates.
The advisory committee that searches for potential speakers is comprised of students, faculty and staff. After a list of candidates is compiled, the Academic Council discusses conferment of honorary degrees, which the University traditionally bestows upon commencement speakers.
"These tend to be people of fairly considerable distinction that are to be on the list of persons," said Paul Haagen, professor in the School of Law and chair of the Academic Council.
Ultimately, the extension of invitations to speak rests in the hands of the president.
Haltom also noted that the University does not compensate commencement speakers. "Duke does not pay an honorarium," Haltom said. "Some speakers who have celebrity status require a hefty fee."
Administrators also emphasized the University's desire that the speaker represent Duke's status as a global institution-a trend evident in recent years' selections.
President of Chile Ricardo Lagos was the keynote speaker last year, former Secretary of State Madeleine Albright spoke the year before and United Nations Secretary General Kofi Annan was scheduled to headline the 2003 commencement ceremony but had to cancel due to an illness.
"The University as a whole is increasingly understanding itself as a global citizen," Haagen said. "In general, the University is very concerned about its role in the world, both the importance of global issues and its place in the world."
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