Three distinguished men have been scheduled to speak at the fall commencement ceremonies which are to be held at Breslin Center.
The speakers are Lee Bollinger, president of the University of Michigan; Clark Bunting, vice president and general manager for the Discovery Channel; and Roger Beachy, director of the Donal Danforth Plant Science Center in St. Louis, Mo.
MSU President M. Peter McPherson said he is always open to ideas from anyone, but is happy with the speakers that were chosen.
“I think that each of these speakers have enormous professional credibility,” he said. “Each of them have a distinctive attractiveness.”
Bollinger, who will receive an honorary doctor of laws and will speak at the 2 p.m. undergraduate ceremony on Dec. 8, said he has enjoyed working with McPherson and that together they have established a solid relationship between MSU and U-M.
“I’m very excited that President Bollinger will be attending,” he said. “There is no question that the universities joint projects are working more closely than ever.”
Matt Clayson, chairperson of ASMSU’s Academic Assembly, had mixed opinions about having U-M’s president as a commencement speaker.
“I think it is good outreach between the two universities,” he said. “It shows as sense of unification - even though Bollinger will not be president of the University of Michigan much longer.”
Bollinger is expected to become the next president of Columbia University.
But Clayson said he strongly doubts U-M would ask MSU’s President McPherson to speak at its commencement.
“You would think a university with the size and prestige of Michigan State could pull some sort of out-of-state academic or some more notable speaker for commencement,” he said.
On Dec. 8, Bunting will address an undergraduate ceremony at 10 a.m. where he will accept an honorary doctor of humane letters. Being an MSU alumnus, he said is both proud and excited to return to campus as a commencement speaker.
Bunting featured the MSU College of Veterinary Medicine in a television series he created called “Vet School Confidential.” He has also created other popular shows including “Crocodile Hunter” and “Twisted Tales.”
Bunting said he has some great stories from his shows to tell.
“I will try to relate some personal experiences that I had while spending some fine time in the bushes with Steve Irwin, (the Crocodile Hunter),” he said.
Like Bunting, Beachy is also a MSU alumnus. He plans to mention the tragic events of Sept. 11 in his speech at the 7 p.m. advanced degree ceremony on Dec. 7.
“There are many challenges we are thinking about after Sept. 11,” he said. “It has changed so many of us and has changed how we respond to the opportunities around us.”
Beachy, known for his work on plant disease resistance and for his discoveries in the field of plant virus biotechnology, will receive a honorary doctor of science.
“He is well deserving of his honorary degree,” said Barbara Sears, a professor of plant biology. “I have a lot of respect for him.”
And Beachy said he is looking forward to speaking.
“I’ve kept track of the Spartans all these years,” he said. “I’m pleased to receive an honorary degree from my alma mater because it’s the most special place to get an honor.”
