Oftentimes, major colleges and universities invite well-known figures to deliver a commencement address to their graduating class – a speech congratulating graduates on their accomplishments and offering advice for what’s ahead.
The University of Alabama has no such address.
It hasn’t always been that way, however. Prior to May 2007, every graduation ceremony at the Capstone featured a notable commencement speaker, such as long-time university administrator John Blackburn, award-winning actress Sela Ward, the U.S. ambassador to the Republic of Korea Thomas Hubbard and James T. Stephens, the former president of the board of EBSCO, to name a few.
It was the second of Stephens’ 2007 addresses, however, that ultimately put an end to the annual deliverance of the commencement speech.
Stephens followed in the footsteps of those before him, challenging students to do better than previous generations, and then he began addressing America’s military involvement in Iraq.
“We … are now engaged aggressively in addressing Iraq,” he said. “We are asking whether our minds are being led by a good heart. We are asking whether this is good global citizenship. Most importantly, we are asking: Is this the behavior of a good and virtuous society?”
Stephens continued, saying he felt there are two elements of the war that are painful to the nation’s character.
“First, we stepped outside our national character when we started the war,” he said. “The second pain is the combination of the loss of life and the large number of crippled young men and women of our armed forces, but the greater number is the 65,000 absolutely innocent children, women and men, all Iraqi civilians, who have died from the disturbances created.
“We can relate easily to the family pain from the killing of innocents at Virginia Tech. Fifty civilians died in Iraq that very day.”
Reports from those in attendance say that when Stephens switched topics and addressed the United States’ involvement overseas, a group of students began to boo him, which brought about laughter and more boos from those around them. As more of a stir began, Stephens cut his speech short and took a seat on stage as UA graduates were handed their diplomas.
Charles White, a 2007 graduate who was in attendance for Stephens’ speech, said that it’s not uncommon for political figures to use commencement speeches to discuss policy issues and that he thought Stephens displayed tremendous courage with his address.
“He had to know going into it that it was an unpopular opinion given the context,” White said. “I also thought it was very disrespectful to the speaker, the University and the graduates for people to boo him. Are you really so narrow-minded that you can’t just sit for an hour and listen to someone with whom you disagree? You have to boo them off the stage?
“Don’t get me wrong, you can and should question everything you hear,” White continued, “but in an educated and civilized democracy, we do so respectfully only after we’ve listened intently. If you disagree, write a letter to the editor, or to the president of the University, or to the speaker. Booing just demonstrates lack of fortitude and substance on the part of the booer.”
Stephen Zito, who also graduated in 2007, said the speech Stephens gave was in very poor taste.
“Regardless of what his or my political opinion happens to be, I felt at the time and still feel that the speech was inappropriate for the event,” Zito said. “I can’t speak for the thousands of other people who heard the speech, but a number of my classmates and their families, including some who had served in Iraq, also found the speech in poor taste.
“As for the booing, I felt it was probably deserved but I also felt it was not appropriate for the event. I, along with most of my classmates who were sitting near me, chose not to boo out of respect for the ceremony; however, no one applauded the speech either. I felt that the speech somewhat tainted the event.”
While this year’s graduation ceremony features no commencement speaker, it does not lack honor or special recognition.
Mary Allen Jolley, a UA alumna, will receive an honorary degree from the University.
Jolley was involved in the National Defense Education Act of 1958, served on a presidential panel during the Kennedy administration, assisted President Lyndon Johnson’s National Commission on Libraries and, in 1984, was named Director of Economic and Community Affairs for The University of Alabama. During her time at the Capstone, Jolley created outreach programs for towns across the state, thus helping them recruit industry, retain existing businesses, and prepare a qualified workforce to meet emerging needs.
Upon retiring from the University in 1994, Jolley continued to help state communities, particularly in the Black Belt, on issues related to children and families, health, education, literacy, and job creation.
It was University of Alabama System Chancellor Malcolm Portera who submitted Jolley’s nomination to the board of trustees, which was unanimously approved.
“During a lifetime of outstanding public service, Mrs. Mary Allen Jolley has been involved in transforming the economy of Alabama through innovative partnerships and cutting edge projects,” Portera said. “Thanks to her efforts in Washington, D.C. to achieve passage of the landmark National Defense Education Act, Mary Jolley helped open the doors of opportunity for generations of college students across our nation.
“An individual of the highest integrity, she has led wisely by personal example and is certainly deserving of this honorary degree.”
