Lamm To Deliver Keynote Address at Graduation

Efforts For Student Speaker Denied

At the university's upcoming commencement exercise, Rabbi Dr. Norman Lamm, President and Rosh HaYeshiva of YU is slated to deliver the keynote address. The ceremony, marking the graduation of over 2,200 undergraduate and graduate students, will take place on May 26 at The Theatre at Madison Square Garden. This year's graduation is the fiftieth anniversary of Lamm's commencement, at which he spoke, representing his class as valedictorian.

Lamm's address is expected to discuss the state of both Yeshiva University and the Jewish community at large, as we approach the close of the twentieth century. Lamm will confer the graduates' diplomas, as well as five honorary doctoral degrees to individuals who have distinguishes themselves.

However, the decision for Lamm to speak was replete with controversy. YU has not had a valedictory address from a student since around 1980, according to Dean of Student Services Dr. Efrem Nulman, but recently the issue has become a student concern. Many students feel that they should have one of their own to represent them at their graduation, as most universities do. The Commentator printed an editorial earlier this year advocating this interest but to no avail.

According to outgoing YCSC president Dror Barber, there has been a year-long effort orchestrated for this cause. The push for change was induced by last year's graduation, in which the main speaker's address consisted of his doctoral thesis, which many found far too lengthy and unengaging.

After a meeting of a focus group from all the colleges, all representatives were in favor of an undergraduate speaker. However the Office of Ceremonial Occasions responded from the board and president that there was no way a student would be allowed to speak. The reason given, according to Barber, was that the administration "did not know what the student would say, and there was a possibility that students would misbehave or not represent the institution well."

Barber was miffed by this response, saying, "It's a little hypocritical and upsetting for Dr. Lamm to think he was fit enough to speak as valedictorian, but today's graduates are not."

The next plan students initiated was to at least have a renowned speaker from outside of the university who would be interesting to the students and public. This also is common practice at many universities, according to Barber. There was talk of bringing in Joe Torre or Mayor Rudolph Giuliani, which even resulted in tentative plans for Giuliani to speak. However, those were eventually nixed for an unknown reason. No further effort was made to find another speaker from outside.

Barber expressed the perspective of a graduating senior when he said, "Graduation is there for the students. It's our day, after we've finished four years of college. The school should put someone up there who represents us, and if not, at least provide someone who is uniquely of interest to graduates and guests." Barber contends that students can hear their university president speak several times per year, and graduation should have something fresh and unusual.

Barber did not want to incriminate the whole administration for the authoritarian stance which has been taken. The Student Service office has been supportive of the students' interests, he said, "they're the only department that sees graduation as being for the students." Both David Rosen of the Public Relations office and Dr. Efrem Nulman of Student Services declined to comment for The Commentator on the situation.

Though this year's YC valedictorian, Yosef Blum, thinks the students should have a representative speak for them and address the class at graduation, he claims to see both perspectives. "I think the valedictorian should speak, but I don't see how it could be pulled off given time constraints and the amount of schools being represented." Blum suggested a separate graduation for the undergraduates, apart from the graduate school commencement.

Unfortunately, it does not seem that what Bloom stated is the reason for the administration's obstinacy. The focus group from the different schools had already devised a plan to rotate YC, Stern College, and SSSB valedictorians by year. Representatives in the focus group from YU's graduate schools recalled that at their undergraduate graduations, the address was given by an undergraduate valedictorian, and they concurred with implementing that here.

Many students feel that the upper administration has thwarted student efforts for something of meaning to them. Though a change could not be made for this year, many are still satisfied that at least with Dr. Lamm, there is a distinguished speaker for graduation. When asked about coming years, Barber showed hope, saying, "I have faith in the Office of Student Service that they are working hard on our behalf to make a change."