The University of California is very excited and honored as it is expecting Michelle Obama to speak at commencement at its youngest campus, Merced. Her presence on the campus and her speech will heighten the awareness of the college and bring national attention to this honored school.
This campus, located in the San Joaquin Valley, has in the past struggled to attract attention and students to its campus. That is all about to change and has already as the amount of the costs of the commencement has risen tremendously.
As soon as she replied to the affirmative, the cost of the event rose from $100,000 dollars to $700,000 in order to provide for news-media hook-ups and a live transmission of the commencement for those who could not attend. Security will have to be tightened and food service and boundaries set for the event. Not a single item will be left unchecked. Such an honor for this school!
What a difference to the reception that President Obama might receive at Notre Dame when he delivers his commencement speech. The president will be attending when the honored recipient of the yearly Laetare award would not accept nor attend if he was to speak. It appears that Obama’s views on abortion do not coincide with those of the Catholic Church and the recipient, Mary Ann Glendon, a law professor at Harvard, would have nothing to do with him. What a difference it makes when religion and education is mixed together!
It should be an honor to have the First Lady or President Obama speak at any commencement this year when the country has gone through such turmoil and defeat as it has. The country needs words of comfort, words of exhilaration and words of encouragement to continue their education even in the face of bleak employment statistics and student loan debts. Religion should have no place in these speeches.