NewsMarch 20, 2012 at 10:42 am

The 2012 Commencement Speaker

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The DP reports that Geoffrey Canada, the founder and President of the Harlem Children’s Zone whose work was prominently featured in the 2010 documentary Waiting For Superman, will deliver the commencement address to this year’s graduating class in May.

While Canada is a noticeably less high-impact name compared to recent commencement speakers such as Denzel Washington and Eric Schmidt, his work in education reform made him a sensible pick for the university’s administrators. Some commenters have applauded the choice, while others are miffed they won’t be hearing from a more high-profile speaker. Give us your thoughts below.

22 People have left comments on this post


By David Cadsworth IV on March 20, 2012 at 10:42 am

So many nobodies doing commencement speeches these days. I wish we could get someone big like Kim Kardashian.

By Penn Student on March 20, 2012 at 10:42 am

So disappointing….

By senior on March 20, 2012 at 10:42 am

EXTREMELY disappointing

By 2012 on March 20, 2012 at 10:42 am

This is so exciting. He has made such significant, tangible changes in the field of education, and he work on anti-poverty and anti-violence initiatives are so inspiring. He has run specific, lasting programs that have done more to better this country than anything Denzel or Huntsman have done.

Thanks, Penn!

By Alt Rock on March 20, 2012 at 10:42 am

Disappointed that it’s not someone bigger (like Joe Biden: Philly-area roots, maybe last term as VP… come on!), but at the same time happier than I would be with an actor or someone from pop culture (aka happier than I would be with Denzel).

By seniorsss on March 20, 2012 at 10:42 am

He’s certainly qualified to give the speech at the College ceremony or GSE, but for our last hurrah at commencement, I think we’re warranted some better bragging rights (though I know how superficial it sounds). I don’t think it’s a sense of entitlement; if we always had such activists as speakers in the past, then we would be expecting it, but we haven’t. Oh well, come speech day, in ten minutes it will be over and everyone will probably say it’s good and forget…

By Alec Miller on March 20, 2012 at 10:42 am

Please stop complaining. If you are interested in participating in the selection process for the commencement speaker, please apply for the University Council Committee on Honorary Degrees. The interview process will be later this semester. If you are interested in applying and putting your money where your mouth is, please email me at alecmil@wharton.upenn.edu and I will be sure to let you know when applications are open.

By laaaaame on March 20, 2012 at 10:42 am

columbia got clinton.

By Fail on March 20, 2012 at 10:42 am

The purpose of the commencement speaker isn’t really to inspire or to bring to light serious issues in American culture. It’s to entertain, pure and simple. We’ll all be bored out of our minds from sitting in Franklin Field for hours on end, and I have a feeling Mr. Canada won’t have much of a humorous tilt to his speech compared to, say, Denzel.

The problem is not that he isn’t high-profile, it’s that he’s simply an inappropriate choice for a commencement speech by sheer entertainment value. There’s a reason schools always shoot for high-profile speakers, and it’s to keep things as exciting and interesting as possible for everyone who attends during what would otherwise be the most boring event of our college careers. No doubt the Wharton kids will be clawing their ears out during this speech…

FAIL.

By Not a fail on March 20, 2012 at 10:42 am

I’m really happy to know that Penn students look not for intellectual growth, but entertainment. That’s exactly why I came to this Ivy League university, to be entertained.

I think Geoffrey Canada is an excellent choice.
Well done!

By Senior on March 20, 2012 at 10:42 am

This man is a living legend. His story is inspirational, his ideas are visionary, and he’s supposed to be an excellent public speaker. So to all those who are whining and calling this a ‘fail,’ prepare to eat your words come May 14.

By David Cadsworth IV on March 20, 2012 at 10:42 am

Oh, I’ll eat my words, all right. I’ll eat them with a side of Côte d’Ivoire caviar and gold-leafed vintage truffle, as is my right as a high-SES member of a long legacy of committed Penn alumni. Really… come on now. My parents don’t pay $55,000/year to hear a socialist pep talk from some “enlightened” plebian.

By Alexa on March 20, 2012 at 10:42 am

I think he is a great choice! He’s so inspirational. Everyone needs to shut up and stop being a spoiled brat.

By Guys, I think David Cadsworth is a troll on March 20, 2012 at 10:42 am

Just saying…

By Sarah on March 20, 2012 at 10:42 am

Amen, David Cadsworth IV.

By I'll bet on March 20, 2012 at 10:42 am

…that those of you applauding this choice didn’t know who he was until you saw the announcement, then wiki-ed him and now are just trying to make yourselves feel better. As amazing I’m sure Geoffrey Canada is, nobody knows him. Plain and simple. Yes, it’s shallow to want a high-profile speaker, but Penn needs to step it up.

By 'merica! on March 20, 2012 at 10:42 am

A Canadian? I demand that we have an AMERICAN deliver this speech!

By ugh on March 20, 2012 at 10:42 am

eeeeeeh boring. i’d rather sit home stoned watching ted talks. tits or gtfo, geoffrey canada.

By yancy on March 20, 2012 at 10:42 am

what is this bs

By @I'll Bet on March 20, 2012 at 10:42 am

So? It’s called being open-minded…you should try it sometime.

By concerned parent and alum on March 20, 2012 at 10:42 am

As an Alum and Class of 2012 parent, I am disappointed to learn that Penn’s 2012 Commencement speaker is a politically correct but not so well known educator. I thought $50,000 a year in tuition would have been enough to secure a more notable speaker.

By john diantonio on March 20, 2012 at 10:42 am

the catering staff of the event talks about how much a joyful moment this was for the graduates http://bit.ly/LbXXnQ

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