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SUNDAY, NOVEMBER 22, 2009
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NEWS ABOUT: commencement speech

commencement speech stories: 25 news summaries

1 - 20 of 25 Stories | 1 2 Next >>

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 Michelle: Sotomayor 'Ready' 


Jun 3, 09 1:41 PM CDT
(Newser) - Michelle Obama threw herself into the Sotomayor debate today in a commencement address she gave to a DC charter school, Politico reports. She likened Sotomayor’s experience to hers and her husband’s, recalling people “sowing seeds of doubt” about them. “Judge Sotomayor is more than ready,”... More »

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Michelle Obama • US Supreme Court • commencement speech • charter school • Sonia Sotomayor

(Newser) - President Obama reiterated his wish to close Guantanamo Bay and rein in harsh interrogation techniques in an address today to graduates of the Naval Academy, the Wall Street Journal reports. “We uphold our fundamental principles and values not because we choose to, but because we swear to,” he... More »

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Guantanamo Bay • graduation • US Naval Academy • Marine • commencement speech • President Obama • Navy officer

OPINION

 A Win for Obama, 
 Moderate Catholics 

President's Notre Dame speech was radical and conservative: Dionne

May 18, 09 7:52 AM CDT
(Newser) - Abortion opponents protested and pro-life students skipped, but Barack Obama's Notre Dame commencement address was at once "the most radical and the most conservative speech of his presidency," writes Washington Post columnist EJ Dionne. The president refused to indulge the protesters' desire to "reignite the culture wars,... More »

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Barack Obama • abortion • Catholic Church • Notre Dame • Catholics • commencement speech • pro-life • culture wars • anti-abortion activists

(Newser) - Speaking amid the swirl of controversy as his pro-choice views and the pro-life values of a Catholic university collided, President Obama today called for "open minds" and "fair-minded words" in Notre Dame's debate surrounding abortion, reports the AP. Amid heckles and students booing hecklers, Obama faced the treacherous... More »

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Barack Obama • abortion • Notre Dame • Catholics • commencement speech • political protest

Michelle to
California Grads:
We Need You

First lady exhorts public service as 12K attend speech to 500 grads

May 17, 09 10:34 AM CDT
(Newser) - While her husband’s commencement speeches were plagued by controversy, Michelle Obama received adoration from graduates at the University of California, Merced, the San Francisco Chronicle reports. During a 29-minute address on a 100-degree day, the first lady encouraged graduates to pursue public service careers. “We are going to... More »

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California • Michelle Obama • University of California • graduation • commencement speech • college graduates • public service • Merced

(Newser) - Students at Notre Dame upset that President Obama will deliver today's commencement address began an all-night prayer vigil Saturday night, reports AP. Earlier, campus police arrested 19 anti-abortion protesters—none of them students—and charged them with trespassing, notes CNN. The invitation to pro-choice Obama has raised a ruckus at... More »

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abortion • Notre Dame • Catholic • commencement speech • President Obama

(Newser) - President Obama has no problem with the so-called snub from Arizona State University. In fact, he embraced it tonight in a speech to graduates and used it to encourage them, reports the Arizona Republic. "I come here not to dispute the suggestion that I haven't yet achieved enough in... More »

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Arizona • commencement speech • President Obama • Arizona State University • Jay-ZTV

Notre Dame Splits on Obama Speech, Protests

Students excited about visit, not pleased with activists' tactics

May 13, 09 10:38 AM CDT
(Newser) - As President Obama's commencement speech at Notre Dame approaches, pro-life activists have converged on the campus with banners, planes, and plans for civil disobedience. But students, who expressed pride that the president chose their school, aren't too happy with the protests. "It cheapens the argument. As someone who is... More »

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Catholic Church • abortion rights • Right to Life • Notre Dame • commencement speech • civil disobedience • anti-abortion activists • President Obama

'Dr. Dolly' Wows, Advises Tenn. Graduates

There's 'a heart beneath these,' Parton tells capacity crowd

May 8, 09 4:36 PM CDT
(Newser) - Dolly Parton roused the crowd at the University of Tennessee’s graduation ceremonies today, during which the singer/tycoon received an honorary doctorate, the Knoxville News Sentinel reports. “I am Dr. Dolly!” she said. “When people say something about ‘double-d,’ they will be thinking of... More »

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music • University of Tennessee • country music • graduation • Dolly Parton • commencement speech • Knoxville • honorary degree

No Degree, But ASU Names Scholarship for Obama

University tries to save face after degree fiasco

Apr 12, 09 8:57 AM CDT
(Newser) - Arizona State University won’t award President Obama an honorary degree during his commencement visit next month, but it will rename a scholarship program for him, the AP reports. ASU’s president, mocked for his refusal to grant Obama the degree, apologized for the “confusion.” “It has... More »

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Barack Obama • flip flop • commencement speech • honorary degree • Arizona State University

ASU Backtracks on Honorary Obama Degree

University still deciding on commencement gesture, president says

Apr 10, 09 5:17 PM CDT
(Newser) - Deluged by a tidal wave of mockery, Arizona State University today set the stage for a flip-flop on its decision not to give President Obama an honorary degree when he speaks at commencement May 13, its president tells Politico. The Tempe school will “honor him in every way possible,... More »

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Barack Obama • flip flop • commencement speech • Obama administration • President Obama • Arizona State University

OPINION

No Honorary Degree for Obama: ASU

What? 'First black president' isn't 'achievement' enough?

Apr 10, 09 10:34 AM CDT
(Newser) - Barack Obama probably doesn’t need the extra diploma, but it’s usually considered a package deal: give a commencement speech, get an honorary degree. Arizona State, lucky enough to get Obama as its speaker, has decided that the leader of the free world isn't worthy of one. Seriously. An... More »

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Barack Obama • commencement speech • honorary degree • Arizona State University

(Newser) - Cardinal Francis George of Chicago ratcheted up the criticism of Notre Dame for inviting President Obama to give a commencement speech in May, the Tribune reports. The school “didn’t understand what it means to be Catholic when they issued this invitation,” said George. Catholic groups have criticized... More »

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stem cell research • abortion • Notre Dame • Catholic • commencement speech • Cardinal Francis George • President Obama

(AP) - Seniors at the University of California, Merced, couldn't rely on a wealthy and established network of alumni to reel in a famous commencement speaker. The UC system's newest campus has yet to graduate a full senior class and only has a handful of alumni. But that didn't keep this year's... More »

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California • Michelle Obama • college • University of California • commencement speech • Merced • founding class

(AP) - The Roman Catholic bishop whose diocese includes the University of Notre Dame says he will boycott President Obama's May 17 commencement speech at the school because of Obama's support for abortion rights and embryonic stem-cell research. John D'Arcy said today that Obama's recent decision to fund embryonic stem-cell research brought... More »

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abortion • stem cells • Vatican • Notre Dame • archdiocese • bishop • commencement speech • Roman Catholic Church • President Obama

 'Star' Hillary Keeps
 Vow With Bronx
 Grad Speech 

Attends teenager's high school graduation

Jun 23, 08 6:46 AM CDT
(Newser) - Hillary Clinton was given a rock star's reception yesterday at her first public appearance in New York since surrendering the Democratic field to to Barack Obama. She presented the graduation address at Pelham Preparatory Academy in the Bronx, fulfilling a promise she made years ago to attend the commencement of... More »

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Barack Obama • Hillary Clinton • Bronx • graduation • commencement speech • campaign debt • Pelham Preparatory Academy

 Rowling Casts Spell at Harvard 

Fight the monsters, she urges

Jun 6, 08 7:10 AM CDT
(Newser) - Harry Potter birth mom JK Rowling yesterday urged Harvard graduates at their commencement to use their imaginations on more than wizards and muggles to envision—and create—a better world. She recalled the rewarding time she spent when she was younger working for prisoners of totalitarian regimes for Amnesty International.... More »

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Harry Potter • JK Rowling • Amnesty International • wizard • political prisoner • Harvard • Albus Dumbledore • commencement speech

 Chicago Mayor 
 a  'Letdown,'
 Grads Moan 

Northwestern seniors, hoping for a bigger name, not pleased with Daley as speaker

May 29, 08 2:01 PM CDT
(Newser) - Some Northwestern University seniors are disappointed the “extremely well-known person” promised as graduation speaker is no one more significant than Richard Daley, Chicago’s mayor. Graduating students have called the revelation “lame” and a “letdown,” the Tribune reports; John McCain and Barack Obama were recent speakers.... More »

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Richard Daley • commencement speech • Northwestern University

US 'Learning as We Go'
in Iraq, Says Bush

President compares war on terrorism to war on fascism and communism

May 28, 08 5:59 PM CDT
(Newser) - President Bush said today the US is "learning as we go" in trying to bring democracy to Iraq and urged Americans not to lose faith. Delivering the commencement address at the Air Force Academy, Bush likened today's campaign against Islamic extremism to the fight against fascism of last century,... More »

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Air Force • commencement speech • Iraq war • George W. Bush • Afghanistan war

 Sir Paul Picks Up Yale Doctorate 

Former Beatle awarded honorary degree

May 27, 08 3:09 AM CDT
(Newser) - Former Beatle Sir Paul McCartney was awarded an honorary doctorate in music by Yale University yesterday during the 307th commencement at the Ivy League institution. The identities of recipients of honorary degrees are usually a closely guarded secret, but McCartney's presence on the Yale campus was impossible to keep under... More »

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Paul McCartney • Yale University • Beatles • Richard Levin • commencement speech • Hey Jude

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