National Security Adviser Condoleezza Rice delivered the commencement address to graduating seniors at Breslin Center on Friday afternoon while groups of people protested her presence outside the building.
Before Rice spoke, MSU President M. Peter McPherson awarded Rice a honorary degree in humane letters.
"You are highly respected for your strength of character and your ability to present articulate analyses of complex international issues," he said.
Rice thanked her "good friend" McPherson for his work in Iraq in 2003 as the coordinator of U.S. efforts to rebuild the war-torn nation's banking system and for "giving Iraqis the chance for freedom."
In Rice's speech, she spoke about the value of education, the war in Iraq and the necessity of optimism. She told of her grandfather's commitment to learning and her own decision to pursue a career in political science after trying to be a concert pianist.
"Education is transforming," she said. "It allows you to make yourself anew."
She drew laughs from the crowd at several points with personal stories about her family and references to the MSU basketball team. In addition, she said graduates have a responsibility to better the world.
"The need for idealists has never been greater in this decade," she said. "We are engaged primarily in a war of ideas."
More than 100 protesters stood outside the center with colorful signs, banging on white plastic pails to show disagreement with this year's commencement speaker.
International relations freshman Laurel Koenig even created a gigantic frowning paper-mache likeness of Rice's head.
"She's upset because we don't want her here," she said, motioning to the unhappy face hovering above the crowd.
As Koenig and the other protesters chanted about democracy, graduates and their parents stepped around the crowd to enter the building.
"It's graduation, so parents are here to support their kids, not necessarily Bush or Condoleezza," Koenig said.
The protesters marched through campus, ending with an alternative graduation ceremony at Demonstration Field.
Every trustee attended the commencement ceremony except for Trustee Colleen McNamara, who stood outside in support of the protesters.
"She is here for political reasons," McNamara said of Rice. "She doesn't have some great affinity for Michigan State."
Graduation, McNamara said, is one of most important times of the year, and "it's not a place for a political figure."
But she wasn't planning to stay outside of Breslin during the actual event.
"I'm probably going to go get lunch," she said.
Trustee Dorothy Gonzales, who viewed the speech, said she respects Rice as a minority woman who has risen to a prominent position.
"I may not agree with her, but that doesn't mean we shouldn't listen to her," she said. "You've got to have all kinds of voices brought forward."
Slipping out of the arena after Rice's speech, 2003 graduate Amy DiFranco said she came to graduation just to hear Rice speak.
"She was pretty good," DiFranco said, adding that she wasn't surprised that Rice brought up the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks and the war in Iraq.
"I don't think there was any way she couldn't," she said.
Leah Tillery, who graduated Friday with a degree in audiology and speech sciences, said she thought Rice's speech was wonderful.
"I think it's great to bring in people that you wouldn't normally have an opportunity to hear," she said. "She did a great job, in spite of the protesting outside.
"It was inspiring."
