National Security Adviser Condoleezza Rice will speak to MSU's graduating class at the spring commencement convocation ceremonies on May 7, university and White House officials announced Monday.
Rice, who has been the national security adviser since early 2001, will speak at 1 p.m. at Breslin Center.
Other MSU commencement speakers have included former President Bill Clinton, Vice President Dick Cheney and Gov. Jennifer Granholm.
"Rice certainly is a key part of this administration, and some people would agree with their approach, and some would strongly disagree with their approach," said Howard Gobstein, MSU's associate vice president of governmental affairs in Washington, D.C. "This is a phenomenal opportunity for the institution."
Colby Cooper, spokesman for Rice, said the security adviser has delivered other addresses to universities in the past, and most students enjoy the speech.
"She really tries to pull in the students' experiences at the university and how they will help - with kind of a humorous tone - in life," he said. "She really tries to cater the speech to students."
Rice, a Republican and former provost of Stanford University, recently appeared in the news defending President Bush's actions before the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks, but she accepted an invitation to speak at MSU prior to the hearings.
"The timing is very interesting," Gobstein said. "I wouldn't at all assume that this had anything to do with anyone pushing an agenda either way."
Rice's recent testimony and political background might cause some controversy, university spokesman Terry Denbow said, but he expects students to welcome her.
"Our students have traditionally wanted, and traditionally expected, speakers who are provocative, current and competent," Denbow said. "If you had somebody who wasn't widely known for taking a stand - popular or unpopular - I don't think you'd have a speaker worthy of our students."
But MSU Trustee Colleen McNamara said a graduation ceremony isn't the place for someone such as Rice.
"The center of attention should be the graduates, not the controversial speaker," said McNamara, a Democrat. "I find her very controversial and very partisan, and I can't help to think that others might, too."
McNamara also criticized MSU President M. Peter McPherson for not consulting the trustees before he made his decision to invite Rice to MSU.
"I was a little annoyed when I found out about it," she said, adding that McPherson has never spoken with trustees about past speakers. "I don't think that's the correct way to do that. I would love for the president to talk with the board."
McPherson - who has been trying to get Rice to speak since he came back from Iraq in October - said he recognizes that Rice could face opposition, and that's one of the main reasons he chose to invite her.
"We often have speakers who are controversial," he said. "It's important to have commencement speakers who have something to say."
