The Daily OrangeVice President Joe Biden to deliver commencement address
By Julia Terruso
Posted: 3/5/09, 3:25 AM EST Section: News
Vice President Joe Biden will give the commencement address to the Syracuse University graduating class of 2009. The joint ceremony with the State University of New York College of Environmental Science and Forestry will take place May 10 in the Carrier Dome.
Biden, a 1968 alumnus of SU's College of Law, gave the keynote address for the SU Law Commencement in 1994, 2002 and 2006. He delivered the keynote speech at the College of Law's Centennial Celebration in 1995.
"I'm just thrilled," Chancellor Nancy Cantor said by phone Wednesday night. "He's an extraordinary public servant and it's a wonderful thing for us here."
Since 1965, no sitting vice president has given the commencement speech at SU. Hubert Humphrey spoke at commencement that year. No active president has ever delivered an SU commencement speech.
Cantor said she's had many conversations with the vice president's office and with Biden himself in the course of securing the logistics for the event.
"It's a true honor to be invited back to Syracuse University," Biden said in a news release. "The University and entire Syracuse community have meant so much to me in my life, and I look forward to being a part of the Orange's 2009 graduation festivities."
Biden received the SU Chancellor's Medal in 1980, the SU Law Alumni Association's Distinguished Service Award in 2003 and SU's highest alumni award - the George Arents Pioneer Medal - in 2005. He will be presented with an honorary degree at this year's commencement.
Cantor and the selection committee picked Biden after a committee of class marshals submitted a list of 40 names in November.
"They were almost discouraging us from putting him on the list, saying he'd probably be too busy to get," said Carissa Matthews, a senior public relations major and class marshal.
Matthews said that despite the warnings, Biden was an obvious candidate to put on the list because of his connection to SU and the excitement of the election season, which coincided with selection committee meetings.
Biden, a 1968 alumnus of SU's College of Law, gave the keynote address for the SU Law Commencement in 1994, 2002 and 2006. He delivered the keynote speech at the College of Law's Centennial Celebration in 1995.
"I'm just thrilled," Chancellor Nancy Cantor said by phone Wednesday night. "He's an extraordinary public servant and it's a wonderful thing for us here."
Since 1965, no sitting vice president has given the commencement speech at SU. Hubert Humphrey spoke at commencement that year. No active president has ever delivered an SU commencement speech.
Cantor said she's had many conversations with the vice president's office and with Biden himself in the course of securing the logistics for the event.
"It's a true honor to be invited back to Syracuse University," Biden said in a news release. "The University and entire Syracuse community have meant so much to me in my life, and I look forward to being a part of the Orange's 2009 graduation festivities."
Biden received the SU Chancellor's Medal in 1980, the SU Law Alumni Association's Distinguished Service Award in 2003 and SU's highest alumni award - the George Arents Pioneer Medal - in 2005. He will be presented with an honorary degree at this year's commencement.
Cantor and the selection committee picked Biden after a committee of class marshals submitted a list of 40 names in November.
"They were almost discouraging us from putting him on the list, saying he'd probably be too busy to get," said Carissa Matthews, a senior public relations major and class marshal.
Matthews said that despite the warnings, Biden was an obvious candidate to put on the list because of his connection to SU and the excitement of the election season, which coincided with selection committee meetings.
Viewing Comments 1 - 2 of 2
Mike Long
posted 3/06/09 @ 12:43 AM EST
Mr. Vice President,
For your consideration upon preparing your address.
Regards.
Academic Integrity:
The Syracuse University Academic Integrity Policy holds students accountable for the integrity of the work they submit. (Continued…)
Disappointed 3L at the College of Law
posted 3/06/09 @ 1:26 PM EST
When I heard Vice President Biden accepted the University's invitation to speak at the undergraduate commencement, I was surprised, to say the least, because our college was not able to land perhaps the most important graduate in our school's history (apologies to Judge McKee, Senator D'Amato, and the other high profile alumni of our school). (Continued…)
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