Greenfield cancels graduation speech

---

by James Tolle

---

Newsweek columnist Meg Greenfield, who was to be this year's commencement speaker, recently notified the university that she would be canceling her appearance due to health reasons.

President Malcolm Gillis has assumed the responsibility of seeking a replacement speaker.

According to Chetan Kapoor, a member of the Student Association Commencement Speaker Committee, last year's committee made a list of recommended speakers and presented it to Gillis.

After all the people on the list turned down the opportunity to speak at graduation, Gillis began to search for a speaker himself. This year, Greenfield was chosen.

"No one on the list could come, so [Gillis] went out on his own," Kapoor said.

There has always been the option to invite a faculty member, including Gillis, to speak, but neither one is being considered.

"We are still trying to get an outside speaker, but it's very late," Gillis said.

The timing of the cancellation has added more pressure to the search. Gillis stressed the lack of time as a major limiting factor in decision processes.

According to Gillis, the decision will be announced in a couple of weeks, but he is not sure about any specifics.

Sid Richardson College senior Joel Grus, who will be graduating next month, expressed his general displeasure with the situation.

"I think enough people were already disappointed with the selection that they're not really going to care," Grus said.

This item appeared in the News section of the April 12, 1996 issue.

Copyright © 1996 The Rice Thresher. All Rights Reserved.
This document may be distributed electronically, provided that it is distributed in its entirety and includes this notice. However, it cannot be reprinted without the express written permission of:
The Rice Thresher, Rice University, 6100 Main, Houston, TX 77005-1892, USA.