THE PODIUM.
IT'S THAT TIME OF YEAR AGAIN.
THE MAJESTY OF POMP AND 
CIRCUMSTANCES.
AND POTENTIALLY IMPORTANT 
ADVICE.
>> STAY HUNGRY.
STAY FOOLISH.
>> THAT IS, IF THE COMMENCEMENT 
SPEAKER IS ALLOWED TO SPEAK.
THEY ARE INVITED TO THESE 
INSTITUTIONS FOR DEBATES AND 
IDEAS THAT ARE BEING PROTESTED 
BECAUSE SOME PEOPLE DON'T LIKE 
THEIR IDEAS.
CONDOLEEZZA RICE WAS A GRADUATE 
AT RUTGERS UNIVERSITY BUT HER 
PAST INVOLVEMENT WITH THE IRAQ 
WAR AND SAY NO TO CONDO AND THE 
PRO-GU
PROFESSOR TO SPEAK HAS BECOME A 
DISTRACTION AND AT LEAST RICE 
WAS APPARENTLY ABLE TO MAKE THAT
DECISION ON HER OWN.
AN HONORARY DEGREE WAS OFFERED 
TO THE SOMALI DUTCH CRITIC OF 
ISLAM BUT STUDENTS PROTESTED HER
VIEW AND ALI'S HONORARY DEGREE 
WAS RESCINDED.
PASADENA CITY COLLEGE CHOSE 
JUSTIN WHO WON AN AWARD FOR 
"MILK" AND THEN THE SCHOOL 
DISINVITED BLACK BECAUSE HE WAS 
ONCE IN A SEX TAPE AND THEN THEY
CHANGED THEIR MIND AND REINVITED
HIM.
IT ALL MAKES YOU WONDER WHO IS 
RUNNING THESE GIRLS AND WHAT IS 
BEING TAUGHT ABOUT FREE 
EXPRESSION AND DEBATE?
HOWARD UNIVERSITY INVITED SEAN 
P. DIDDY COMBS TO SPEAK THIS 
YEAR.
HE DROPPED OUT OF CLASS THERE TO
PURSUE HIS OWN PURSUITS.
BUT HE WAS NOT THE FIRST TO GET 
HIS HONORARY DEGREE BEFORE 
COMPLETING HIS COLLEGE DEGREE. 
>> DAD, I ALWAYS TOLD YOU I'D 
COME BACK AND GET MY DEGREE.
>> Reporter: CONTROVERSY CAN 
STRIKE THE EVEN LEAST LIKELY OF 
INVITEES.
IN THE 1990s, HER HUSBAND 
PROTESTED BACK.
>> I THINK THAT THESE YOUNG 
WOMEN CAN HAVE A LOT TO LEARN 
FROM BARBARA BUSH AND HER 
SELFLESSNESS.
>> NOTRE DAME STUDENTS PROTESTED
HIS STAND ON ABORTION RIGHTS. 
>> I ALSO WANT TO THANK YOU FOR 
THE HONORARY DEGREE BECAUSE I 
KNOW IT'S NOT BEEN WITHOUT 
CONTROVERSY. 
>> APPLAUDED OR PROTESTED, THIS 
YEAR'S SPEAKERS WILL BE 
ADDRESSING A VERY IMPORTANT 
GROUP.
