Speakers not expected choice for 2009 class

Many people may have read Miami University's news release announcing the commencement speakers for this year's graduation, Congressmen Paul Ryan and Steve Driehaus. I cannot speak for others, but I was more than a little disappointed at the choices Miami made for this, the bicentennial graduation of the university. In my opinion, Miami University is wasting a great opportunity (you might say a once every 200 years opportunity) to get the school's name and history out to the nation in a positive way. Does the university think having two people speak makes up for one great speaker?

Not everyone is going to land President Barack Obama as their graduation speaker, but there are countless other influential and inspiring people who could bring great press to the university while also sharing a powerful message with those of us heading out into the working world.

Throughout the history of Miami we have brought many great speakers to motivate and encourage the students here: John F. Kennedy, William Howard Taft, Colin Powell and many more. While the congressmen are alumni to Miami and honor our country and communities through their service, they do not evoke the caliber of inspiration one would associate with a 200-year celebration of one of the greatest public universities in the country.

Every moment counts at Miami - even the parting ones. This bicentennial is more than fundraisers for a new student center and balls to celebrate the past. This bicentennial marks another graduating class of students about to embark on the world. These, the students armed with a strong Miami education ready to make an impact, are the real reason we should be honoring the bicentennial. And this is why Miami should have put the effort into finding a truly inspiring leader of today to speak the words that lead us out into the world of tomorrow.

It's not too late, Miami. Maybe I'll be surprised when I look up to that stage with my family and friends and listen to the one(s) Miami has chosen to represent 200 years of educating the leaders of tomorrow. I will hope.

Tess Schuster schustee@muohio.edu

Miami should be proud of hockey team's grit

As an East Coast hockey fan who wanted Boston University to win the NCAA hockey championship, I have to admit Miami University played like national champions. Miami fans as well as all Ohio hockey fans should be proud of the way this team played. Their playing was a tribute to the school and their coaching staff. BU had more talent than Miami, but not more grit. In losing a heart breaker, Miami displayed character and dignity to say the least. Three cheers for Miami University and their championship hockey team.

Dennis O'Donnell did009@hotmail.com

Student let down by graduation speakers

What do Ralph Waldo Emerson, Howard Taft, John F. Kennedy, Bob Hope, George H. W. Bush, Malcolm Forbes and Colin Powell all have in common? Anyone who has taken Dr. Shriver's history of Miami University course ought to know these three former presidents and other people of notoriety were speakers at the graduation ceremonies for Miamians of years past. With a list such as this, and with the commencing of students in the 200th year of the university, it seemed we were in store for something grand. I mean, I still remember receiving my acceptance letter to the bicentennial class and thinking - wow this will be amazing.

So when I found out Miami hit a grand slam with none other than … Congressmen Paul Ryan (R - WI) and Steve Driehaus (D - OH) …Wait a minute … this can't be right … Miami … you can't be serious.

It's the bicentennial, and you reach into your bag of tricks and pull out two inexperienced, non-important Miami political science graduates with a collective time in office of just under a decade.

Couldn't we at least get a senator? What are Mike DeWine, Sherrod Brown or George Voinovich up to? In any other year this selection may have been deemed acceptable - but on the 200th birthday of the university, Miami really disappoints. On behalf of my fellow seniors, I strongly urge and petition President Hodge and the Commencement Committee to reconsider their selection of Reps. Ryan and Driehaus. Miami deserves far better than this last minute roundup.

Andrew Goldie goldieam@muohio.edu