Condoleezza Rice backs out of Rutgers commencement
NEW BRUNSWICK, N.J. (AP) – Former Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice has backed out of delivering the commencement address at Rutgers University following protests by some faculty and students over her role in the Iraq War. Rice said in a statement Saturday that she informed Rutgers President Robert Barchi that she was declining the invitation to speak at the graduation. The comparison with the story of Ayan Hirsi Ali and Brandeis, is obvious. In both cases students and facukty took a stnd on how they wanted THEIR names used to honor individuals. While I agree with the students at Rutgers and disagree with those at Brandeis, I strongly support the simple idea that a University’s accolades should reflect the students and the faculty, not the administration and regents.