Student Commencement Speaker

[Mayor McCheese]

So at my graduation (not at MU)... we had the commencement speaker, and then a student speaker (don't know the official title.. valedictorian I guess)... she went to school for 3 and a half years, I never saw her until the day of graduation, and my guess is she didn't have much fun according to her speech (compared it to her commencement speech in high school)

Why don't schools allow a student to speak that most of the students that are graduating relate to.  Partying 3-4 days a week their frosh and soph years... Bars every weekend.... experiencing college life... instead of a girl who went to school 3 and a half years and spent it in the library.


This isn't a knock on anyone who studies or doesn't drink, graduate, its important... but live a little, doesn't mean you have to drink, but if you graduate from college before you turn 21... you missed out on A LOT.

[MUeng]

agreed

[tower912]

Do they still have graduation by college after the big ceremony?   When I graduated, each school had a smaller ceremony after where we actually received our diploma.   I gave the speech for my sub-college.  I fit the criteria you were looking for.  It helped that two of the girls on the committee that made the choice for my school were, er, 'friends' of mine.

[Ari Gold]

Do they still have graduation by college after the big ceremony?   When I graduated, each school had a smaller ceremony after where we actually received our diploma.   I gave the speech for my sub-college.  I fit the criteria you were looking for.  It helped that two of the girls on the committee that made the choice for my school were, er, 'friends' of mine.

They still do have it by college. And they still pick the most prude-ish girls that never actually lived in college... they just studied. one of em was in my theo class. Still used highlighters for notes and complained about how much reading they had to do for the class -I wouldnt know I never bought the book-

I completely agree though. they need to pick real college students, who drank on a tuesday... in the library...at 1030...am. Not people that spend their entire college life behind a laptop in a single study desk in the memorial basement.

[chapman]

They still do have it by college. And they still pick the most prude-ish girls that never actually lived in college... they just studied. one of em was in my theo class. Still used highlighters for notes and complained about how much reading they had to do for the class -I wouldnt know I never bought the book-

I completely agree though. they need to pick real college students, who drank on a tuesday... in the library...at 1030...am. Not people that spend their entire college life behind a laptop in a single study desk in the memorial basement.

I agree that there probably haven't been many speakers who had a connection with a majority their peers.  But IMO the entirety of the Graduation Day ceremonies are for parents.  I know most students are looking forward to binge drinking for an entire week, but I think a lot would just as soon skip the ceremonies if it wasn't a family event.  Most will be going to the bar or going back to sleep once they go through the motions half awake and hung over.

[77ncaachamps]

Damn, Mac, you're right. I DID miss out on a lot.

I guess I have some making up to do!!!

[Hards Alumni]

the speaker for our commencement (College of Health Sciences) was the person that everyone knew, and liked... she was a fun person and most definitely had a lot of fun...

so maybe its not every speaker.

[Tugg Speedman]

Why don't schools allow a student to speak that most of the students that are graduating relate to.  Partying 3-4 days a week their frosh and soph years... Bars every weekend.... experiencing college life... instead of a girl who went to school 3 and a half years and spent it in the library.


This isn't a knock on anyone who studies or doesn't drink, graduate, its important... but live a little, doesn't mean you have to drink, but if you graduate from college before you turn 21... you missed out on A LOT.

So you want the school to celebrate mediocrity?  How about if the bball team votes Dwight Burke the MVP of last season?  It's the same thing?

[Robyrd5]

I don't have a problem with having a student speaker most students can relate to. But I'm not sure a speaker who would reference getting drunk all the time would be the classy way to go on such a special occasion. Anyone remember the controversy at UW in December? Some parents and faculty were up in arms over the amount of drinking references one student made in her speech.

http://www.madison.com/tct/news/stories/325421

[Wareagle]

In my mind, the people whose college experience consists of drinking should be and are recognized by their drinking peers every weekend.

Marquette University, on the other hand, should recognize those people who demonstrate academic achievement, as it is an academic institution.  If MU changes up and decides to determine class rank based on power hours completed and total beers bonged, then by all means have the man with the cast iron liver speak. 

It's only two hours of your life, don't worry about it.  When I graduated, I slept with my eyes open during the speeches, then collected the graduation checks from the fam, and was drinking later that night.  It's inconsequential and over before you know it.

[Mayor McCheese]

So you want the school to celebrate mediocrity?  How about if the bball team votes Dwight Burke the MVP of last season?  It's the same thing?

How are we determining mediocrity... if you ask me, the person who didn't live up college (doesn't mean have to drink, but)... the one who didn't gain friendships that will last a lifetime, the one who sat in the library every night, the one who graduated in 3 and a half years, the one who didn't live out college, thats the one who wasted their money and spent it doing nothing.

The one who stayed up till 5 in the morning when they had a quiz the next day, the one who made friendships that last a lifetime, the one who celebrated the life that is college... thats the person who is excellence.  I guess its just perspective, thats all.

[Robyrd5]

I would hardly call graduating with a degree, especially in three and a half years, doing nothing or a waste of money. And let's not assume that those who study nightly don't make lasting friendships (they may just be friendships of the more sober kind...to each his own). People experience college in different ways, and I would hate to tell someone they wasted their time here just because they didn't spend their Thursdays nights at Red Door freshman year or bomb a quiz because they chose to go to Caffrey's instead of the library.

Believe me, I enjoy drunken college stories as much as the next person, but commencement isn't really the time or place for that. Graduation is about excellence accomplished in the classroom (and if that was accomplished while still managing to get drunk four nights a week, more power to them). Let's save the stories about how we were written up in McCormick for beer pong for the graduation parties and senior week bar crawls...not in major speeches delivered in front of little siblings,grandparents, and Father Wild.

But you're right, it's all about perspective, so sorry for the rant. 8 am finals make me crabby.

[Tugg Speedman]

I would hardly call graduating with a degree, especially in three and a half years, doing nothing or a waste of money. And let's not assume that those who study nightly don't make lasting friendships (they may just be friendships of the more sober kind...to each his own). People experience college in different ways, and I would hate to tell someone they wasted their time here just because they didn't spend their Thursdays nights at Red Door freshman year or bomb a quiz because they chose to go to Caffrey's instead of the library.

Believe me, I enjoy drunken college stories as much as the next person, but commencement isn't really the time or place for that. Graduation is about excellence accomplished in the classroom (and if that was accomplished while still managing to get drunk four nights a week, more power to them). Let's save the stories about how we were written up in McCormick for beer pong for the graduation parties and senior week bar crawls...not in major speeches delivered in front of little siblings,grandparents, and Father Wild.

But you're right, it's all about perspective, so sorry for the rant. 8 am finals make me crabby.

+1

Stories about being an idiot on Wells Street on Saturday night have no place at commencement.  The speaker should be someone who excelled in the classroom.

Let me turn it around ... Why do we celebrate the three amigos?  Because they excelled in the bball court.  What did it take to do that?  A big commitment of time and discipline.  Should we demand the player who underachieved but was a "really good guy" walking around campus be celebrated.  Should he speak at the bball banquet and tell about all the times he overslept and missed practice?

[OneMadWarrior]

Well Shouldn't' this actually be a case where you find someone who is balanced. Someone who had the ability to do well in school, be social, be active in the community, and maybe have a beer every now and then. I know I may be one of the few people out there that actually wishes he would have spent a little more time thinking about his studies and a little less time drinking pitchers of Icehouse, I still ended up pretty alright.

[GGGG]

Well Shouldn't' this actually be a case where you find someone who is balanced. Someone who had the ability to do well in school, be social, be active in the community, and maybe have a beer every now and then. I know I may be one of the few people out there that actually wishes he would have spent a little more time thinking about his studies and a little less time drinking pitchers of Icehouse, I still ended up pretty alright.

Our student speaker was just that type of person.  Outside of referencing "fun on the weekends" though, she didn't much mention those types of experiences. 

[jaybilaswho?]

I graduated in '07 and I remember being able to vote for who we wanted as our speaker. There were 3 selections to choose from. All were really smart kids who did study alot (i am not saying that they were all bookworms), but at least we got a choice.

Can anyone from that class back this up?

[Tugg Speedman]

Well Shouldn't' this actually be a case where you find someone who is balanced. Someone who had the ability to do well in school, be social, be active in the community, and maybe have a beer every now and then. I know I may be one of the few people out there that actually wishes he would have spent a little more time thinking about his studies and a little less time drinking pitchers of Icehouse, I still ended up pretty alright.

I could read this as you are allergic to hard work and excellence.  Do you really want the speaker to be a screw up to show it's OK to screw up?  What kind of message is that?

If a kid dedicates and discipline himself to get good grades, what shouldn't they be speaker?  They are the future leader, not the fumbling moron on Wells Street on Saturday night that managed to get a few Bs that everyone likes.

The speaker is suppose to be the best the school has to offer.

Or let me turn it around, you guys are so damn demanding of the basketball team to win and win on a high stage.  Why don't you expect the same out of everyone else?

What don't you expect graduates to be heads of corporations, community leaders or positions of power and influence.  Why aren't you expecting that of yourself?  If not, transfer to UWM.  Why sanction mediocrity with a class clown as a speaker?

I'm hate to invoke my advacned age (47) but this is exactly the kind of thinking that is wrong with America.  Strive to do better and have a speaker that embodies this qualities.

[GGGG]

I could read this as you are allergic to hard work and excellence.  Do you really want the speaker to be a screw up to show it's OK to screw up?  What kind of message is that?

If a kid dedicates and discipline himself to get good grades, what shouldn't they be speaker?  They are the future leader, not the fumbling moron on Wells Street on Saturday night that managed to get a few Bs that everyone likes.

The speaker is suppose to be the best the school has to offer.

Or let me turn it around, you guys are so damn demanding of the basketball team to win and win on a high stage.  Why don't you expect the same out of everyone else?

What don't you expect graduates to be heads of corporations, community leaders or positions of power and influence.  Why aren't you expecting that of yourself?  If not, transfer to UWM.  Why sanction mediocrity with a class clown as a speaker?

I'm hate to invoke my advacned age (47) but this is exactly the kind of thinking that is wrong with America.  Strive to do better and have a speaker that embodies this qualities.

I think you didn't read what "MUOVERUWM" wrote.  He didn't say he wanted the class clown to be the speaker, but the person who had a good balance between academic, social life and community service.  That person can then speak to everything that makest the Marquette experience such a valuable one.

[Tugg Speedman]

I think you didn't read what "MUOVERUWM" wrote.  He didn't say he wanted the class clown to be the speaker, but the person who had a good balance between academic, social life and community service.  That person can then speak to everything that makest the Marquette experience such a valuable one.

I did and what he means is "class clown." 

He is just afraid to admit to himself so he is rationalizing his choice.

[GGGG]

I did and what he means is "class clown." 

He is just afraid to admit to himself so he is rationalizing his choice.

He said "Someone who had the ability to do well in school, be social, be active in the community, and maybe have a beer every now and then."

That's a class clown?

[MUfan12]

He said "Someone who had the ability to do well in school, be social, be active in the community, and maybe have a beer every now and then."

That's a class clown?

Apparently. But does the class clown make textbook shaped balloon animals? THEN it'd be a serious commencement speaker.

AnotherMU84's last post was as ridiculous as I've seen here in awhile.

[Hards Alumni]

I did and what he means is "class clown." 

He is just afraid to admit to himself so he is rationalizing his choice.

You're right, we should have the kids with the best grades standing up in front of the rest of us telling us wonderful stories of the long hard nights that he put in at the library and how he will end up being a career college student.

my mother made it a point to NOT hire people who had the highest GPA... they are usually the hardest to get along with and are often so arrogant that no one wants to work with them...

Get a grip.  The people who run the world are not at the height of academia... additionally, college is a LIFE experience... not just show up to class take tests and write papers.

what kind of crazy world do you live in?

[Ari Gold]

I could read this as you are allergic to hard work and excellence.  Do you really want the speaker to be a screw up to show it's OK to screw up?  What kind of message is that?

If a kid dedicates and discipline himself to get good grades, what shouldn't they be speaker?  They are the future leader, not the fumbling moron on Wells Street on Saturday night that managed to get a few Bs that everyone likes.

The speaker is suppose to be the best the school has to offer.

Or let me turn it around, you guys are so damn demanding of the basketball team to win and win on a high stage.  Why don't you expect the same out of everyone else?

What don't you expect graduates to be heads of corporations, community leaders or positions of power and influence.  Why aren't you expecting that of yourself?  If not, transfer to UWM.  Why sanction mediocrity with a class clown as a speaker?

I'm hate to invoke my advacned age (47) but this is exactly the kind of thinking that is wrong with America.  Strive to do better and have a speaker that embodies this qualities.

Hards, the Wiz and MUOVER are right. Another- you look like an old tool. Maybe you've just worn down by the mediocrity of your life and are feeling the pangs  of old age that include hating us youngins. Save the "back in my day rants" for your grand kids.

MUOVER said it best. and I just want to continue to point out that there is so much more to college than the class and the learning. Obviously its why I went to MU, it's why I love(d) MU. But I got just as rewarding of a college experience outside the classroom as I did in, even though I chose not to overwork/worry/stress about grades and smile with my Bs and A/Bs.

I certainly don't want to hear someone talking about how they spent more time passed out in a Murphy's bathroom than anyone else on campus, or how the only reason they went to the library is to find a quiet spot to drink, or how they figured out a way to make sure the RAs never caught em with any green. But a well rounded college individual's (someone who knows murphs as well as the library) speech IMO has the potential to be more memorable than a cliched speech on hard work, dedication peppered with quotes from historical figures given by a girl who spent too much time at the library, buried in books and needs to spend a lil more time on her back. (Just to loosen up). and another point to make another- Who are you to say that a kid who got Bs would give a speech so bad that it would cause you physical pain or death out of sheer embarrassment? Won't it be the same anyways -Hard work, support, friends that'll last a lifetime, good times, inside jokes, made family proud- We're just saying we'd like to hear that speech from someone who actually lived not another mindless tool/prude

I've been talking to some of my friends about this lately, seeing as I want to make sure I've gotten every "college" experience in (to make sure I've really lived to the fullest) and short of a DPS/MPD encounter I really feel like i've done it all. Even though I only got a 3.2 GPA and have failed in the eyes of someone like Another84, I know I would give a damn good speech.

[🏀]

Another,

Have you ever tried talking to a straight-A student? They are socially awkward at best, and they always end up giving the worst speeches. They have terrible stories about staying up late playing Scrabble, listening to Disney Soundtracks too loud, and how much they enjoyed spending their weekends with their other nerd friends playing with their calculators in the library/labs. They do not embody the typically college experience, and shouldn't be up on stage because they are boring.

[MUPHD]

This is all a moot point anyway since the Administration ends up picking the speaker and OKing the speech.  Students nominated whoever they wanted to speak, and then the senior class as a whole voted online about a month ago.  From what I understand, the top 3 vote-getters then met with a couple of administrators who then made a final decision based on what each potential speaker was going to talk about.

If you think for one second that Fr. Wild or anyone else would allow talk of getting tanked or going to bars in a graduation speech heard by thousands of people, you're kidding yourself.

In my opinion, there's no point to even having a senior speaker.  Everyone ends up saying pretty much the same thing, with a bunch of quotes from famous scholars mixed around Faith, Leadership, Service, and Excellence.  I don't think most people even end remembering who their senior speaker was.  I graduated last year and I have not a clue who spoke.