As the year comes to a close, graduation hangs in the minds of this year’s graduating seniors. Senior Week and other annual events are undoubtedly topics of conversation in the last few weeks of school. But lately, news of the 2010 Commencement speakers has also created headlines. As most of the students are already aware, Boston College will welcome General Electric CEO Jeffrey Immelt to campus on May 24 as the 2010 Commencement speaker. And, although Mr. Immelt is highly regarded in his field as an important member of General Electric, it seems that many students on campus are less than ecstatic about his selection. The news release made by the Boston College Office of News & Public Affairs sheds light on Mr. Immelt’s many accomplishments and the reasons for his selection as speaker and presentation of an Honorary Doctor of Business Administration degree, to be awarded at the ceremonies by the University. But May 24th should be a day focusing on the members of the Class of 2010; the speaker should be one who can address their needs and desires, while sending them off into the world with advice for the future. And sometimes, for this biggest impact to be made on the students, the most memorable graduation experiences come from speakers who have taken risks and universities who have taken risks in selecting such speakers.

Many of this year’s Boston College graduating seniors cite the controversy surrounding Condoleezza Rice’s commencement address in 2006 as the reason for recent “safe” speaker selections. In 2006, many faculty members and students voiced their opinions against the selection of then Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice through letters to national newspapers, as well as with signatures on petitions. Their voices were heard, but made no difference in preventing her appearance; Condoleezza Rice addressed those in Alumni Stadium on May 22, 2006 despite the uproar that surrounded her. But I have read the transcript of her commencement address, and despite the unwelcoming reception with which she arrived, her words were, and remain, inspiring. Now, I’m not saying that Mr. Immelt won’t be able to give such a meaningful address, perhaps he can, but the experiences from which she drew her advice to the students are unparalleled to any other. She knew there was controversy surrounding her address, and yet she courageously spoke anyway, which strengthened her words even more. So what if she was controversial? So what if Boston College received some bad press in announcing her as speaker? The graduating seniors of 2006 were left with a final experience at Boston College that they, along with the rest of the Boston College community, will never forget.

And even though Mr. Immelt’s selection hasn’t created campus tensions, there is still one selection associated with Boston College that may. Boston College Law School recently announced that Senator Scott Brown will serve as its commencement speaker. Of course, who could forget the buzz that surrounded Scott Brown in January when he won the “people’s seat” against Massachusetts Attorney General Martha Coakley after the death of Senator Ted Kennedy. Brown, a graduate of Boston College Law School, has deep connections with Boston College and has proved victorious, despite those who campaigned against him. He has already made news in Washington, especially with his role as part of the healthcare bill’s opposition, despite only being there for three short months. Despite the opposition that the Law School has seen regarding Senator Brown’s selection, there is no question that he will remain the commencement speaker. Senator Brown has a story, a very public story, that will undoubtedly resonate with the BC Law graduates as they enter the unforgiving world with their newly earned degrees.

Mr. Immelt didn’t stir up controversy; there are no petitions circulating to rescind his invitation. But of course he can still be a great graduation speaker; he is a leader in his field and was obviously selected by the graduation committee for a reason. He has previously given the commencement address at universities such as Northeastern University, Pepperdine University, and the University of Notre Dame, as well as Dartmouth College, his alma mater.