I attended my first commencement ceremonies this weekend at my school, Drew University. The proceedings had a nice tone to it, and I felt as though all the student speakers and the keynote speaker, Candy Crowley, did a nice job. Crowley is hardly the biggest name to visit Drew in the past few years. This year the likes of Al Gore, Al Sharpton and Bob Menendez graced the campus. Last year we were visited by Bill Clinton, Fareed Zakaria, Rudy Giuliani and the year before that Henry Kissinger. All of these figures are somewhat divisive and come from all over the political spectrum. Part of being a student is listening to all sorts of discourse, even if it means hearing a viewpoint vastly different than your own. Over the course of my three years at Drew I've had roommates, friends and professors that I don't see eye to eye with on many issues. I figure hearing their opinions has made me a more thoughtful progressive and in general a better person.
Of all the famous names to visit Drew, perhaps the one I despise the most is Giuliani. I grew up in Giuliani's New York and I took exception to the way he dealt with the city's crime, education and budget problems. After Rudy gave a corny and unimpressive speech on the qualities necessary to be a great leader I decided it was time to call him on his bullshit. During the Q&A portion I asked Giuliani why his fool proof leadership tactics didn't work when applied to the city's pubic schools. It was one of the most nerve-wracking experiences of my short life. It is because of my brief exchange with my former mayor that I have a tremendous amount of respect for the courage Jean Rohe displayed at her commencement ceremony.
Although I believe listening to alternate viewpoints is a valuable part of a college education, I fully support the protests of Rohe and the students, faculty and parents at the New School. A commencement speech is very different from a lecture. I'm sure had McCain visited New School as a lecturer, he would have been well received. A few students would have written to the school newspaper about how the disagree with him on policy issues, but the environment wouldn't have been at all hostile. A proceeding celebrating the graduation of a class of students is not an appropriate platform for a Presidential candidate to stump. Especially when the record and history of the candidate is clearly in conflict with the values of the institution, it's faculty and it's student body.
The faculty and especially the graduates of the New School had every right to feel used. A week after appearing at an ultra-conservative institution to cozy up to the religious right, McCain used their commencement to try to reestablish his reputation as a maverick Republican who is well received in even the most progressive institutions. If I feel bad for John McCain at all it's because he probably received some horrible political advice. Whoever told McCain that speaking at the New School was a good idea probably would have advised Russ Feingold to visit Bob Jones University. If anything, Jean Rohe probably did McCain a favor. McCain should come to terms with the fact that he's not fooling anyone anymore. He's not a moderate, he's not a maverick and this New York City liberal isn't even going to think about voting for him.