Undergraduate to Speak at Commencement

Administration Finally Bows to Student Pressure

For the first time in over a decade, an undergraduate speaker will deliver an address at Yeshiva University's Commencement exercises. Yeshiva Director of Public Relations Peter L. Ferrara facilitated the resolution, which had been the focus of numerous student requests in recent years. Though the speaker will be allotted just five minutes, and his speech will require approval by the PR office and the Office of the University President, Yeshiva students have hailed the development as an important sign that the University is finally according its undergraduates with a modicum of respect.

The recent impetus for the announcement was a series of memoranda dispatched by YCSC President Pinchas Shapiro at the start of the semester, urging Yeshiva administrators to reconsider the University policy on student speakers. President Shapiro and Commentator Editor-in-Chief Jason Cyrulnik approached Ferrara, whom they viewed as receptive to student concern, a feeling they gathered through minimum exposure to the new administrator. Ferrara in turn relayed their request to Yeshiva University President Dr. Norman Lamm, who ultimately decided to accede to their appeal. "Dr. Lamm felt that it was right to do this," remarked Ferrara, "and he asked me to set up the process." "I agreed to it with a little hesitation," remarked Rabbi Lamm in an interview with The Commentator. "I always thought the idea of a student speaker was a good one. I couldn't think otherwise, since I was one myself. We suspended the privilege because of a series of embarrassing student addresses, however. The speakers in question did not uphold the decorum of the occasion."

Lamm cautioned that the reinstated opportunity should not be squandered. "The speech must be intelligent, clear, and not childish or embarrassing to the University. Our commencement is not just for the undergraduates. It is for graduate students and honorary awardees as well. The speech must reflect the University as a whole. If it doesn't, we will rescind this privilege."

Commenting on the selection process, Ferrara revealed that the tentative procedure calls for selection by the three undergraduate deans of three top candidates from each undergraduate school, automatically reserving one spot for each school's valedictorian. This list of nine nominees will be further whittled down to the top three aspirants, who will be interviewed by the University Dean of Students and Ferrara. The interviewers' recommendations will be passed on to Dr. Lamm himself, or to his successor in the coming years. The President will make the final decision on which of the three will speak. Ferrara also listed some of the factors that the selection committee will take into account, such as GPA, student activism, and the students' overall representation of Yeshiva University's ethos.

While making clear the importance of student speakers' upholding a high intellectual and respectable standard, Lamm also revealed that Yeshiva would brook no criticism of the University in student speeches. "You don't go to a wedding and tell the kallah that she's ugly," he explained. "There certainly are appropriate forums for such criticism, but Commencement is not one of them."

piro spoke for his constituency in welcoming the decision. "We're gratified that Yeshiva finally took our repeated requests seriously. It took way too long, but the recent response is nonetheless exciting and encouraging. We thank Rabbi Lamm for making this decision, and Mr. Ferrara for his invaluable support and involvement." Dean of Students David Himber also acclaimed the news. "Conceptually, it's a wonderful idea," he said. "It is something that has been advocated in the past, and this year it will finally come to fruition."