2 - Friday, January 5, 2007 How does the University pick the commencement speaker? It's not a popularity contest, administrators say Although some students may have hoped Paris Hilton, 2006's most-Googled celebrity, would give this year's commencement speech, the honor went to former President Bill Clinton. As it turns out, University President Mary Sue Coleman and the Honorary Degree Com- mittee pick speakers who have done something with their life' that reflects the University's values. Apparently, Clinton's achieve- ments exceed Hilton's, at least in the University's estimation. According to Lisa Jeffreys, who works in Coleman's office, speakers are chosen based on sig- nificant stature rather than pop- ularity. Administrators look for someone important rather than famous, she said. This ensures that commencement speeches are "meaningful, inspiring and even brilliant," she said. The 20-person Honorary Degree Committee looks for speakers who have advanced their discipline or field. The com- mittee gives priority to minority or female candidates and also tries to honor individuals who have not yet been recognized with other awards. The University inquires about the speaker's availability before Coleman sends an official invi- tation, and if the speaker is not a University employee, they receive an Honorary degree from the University after speaking. In previous years, speak- ers included CNN correspon- dent Christiane Amanpour, Automobile Magazine founder David Davis Jr. and head Xerox researcher John Seely Brown. Students who would like to recommend a commence- ment speaker can send a letter with that person's biography and the reason why that person deserves the honor of being cho- sen commencement speaker. The committee considers every nom- ination it receives. Don't get too excited, though - Coleman has the final say over who gets chosen. JAKE HOLMES - Pondering a great mystery of the University? Let the Daily step in and help you out. 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The Michigan Daily is a memberof The Associated Press and TheAssociated CollegiatePress. 0 Graduating students watch as CNN correspondent Christiane Amanpour delivers a commencement speech last spring. CRIME NOTES CAMPUS EVENTS & NOTES Student reports threatening phone message WHERE: School of Dentistry, 1011 North University Ave. WHEN: Wednesday at about noon WHAT: A dentistry stu- dent received a menacing voice-mail message, the Department of Public Safety reported. The message said the victim was a "bad person" and "would be in trouble," DPS reported. The student suspects the message came from a former patient. Model cars stolen from unlocked office WHERE: Harlan Hatcher Graduate Library WHEN: Wednesday at about 230 p.m. WHAT: A library staff mem- ber returned from Winter Break and found several model cars and motorcycles missing from his office, DPS reported. The office had been left unlocked. Basketball ticket scalper apprehended WHERE: Lot SC-4, 1100 Greene St. WHEN: Wednesday at about 7 p.m. WHAT: A man not affili- ated with the University was caught selling tickets to Wednesday's Michigan men's basketball game against Illi- nois at Crisler Arena, He had no permit to sell tickets. Photo exhibit about Israel WHAT: An exhibit titled "The Forgotten Photographs: The Work of Paul Goldman from 1943-1961" that details the early days of Israel WHO: Hillel WHEN: 9:15 a.m. to 7:15 p.m. until Feb. 28 WHERE: Lounge, Hillel Building Opportunity to practice English WHAT: A chance for non- native English speakers to practice conversation skills, followed by a discussion of the Bible and free snacks WHO: The International Stu- dents Fellowship WHEN: Today from 7 to 9:15 p.m. WHERE: Ann Arbor Chris- tjana eftrmed Church, 1717 Broadway Sc. Organ recital WHAT: A performance fea- turing works by Bach, Liszt, Coe and Messiaen WHO: Music Performance graduate student Alan Knight WHEN: 8 p.m. WHERE: Hill Auditorium Factory photos on display WHAT: An exhibit of photos from Dearborn's Rouge plant WHO: Photographer Michael Kenna WHEN: Today WHERE: University Musuem of Art CORRECTIONS " The photograph on the cover of yesterday's special section on former President Gerald Ford should have been credited to the Associ- ated Press. Please report any error in the Daily to correotions@ michigandaily.con. Fox announced that it has decided to cancel teen soap opera "The O.C." After three seasons,. the show's final epi- sode will air Feb. 22. An online petition to save the show has already gathered over 300,000 signatures. CerealCityUSA,an amuse- ment park in Battle Creek, is closing because it hasn't drawn enough visitors to stay in business. The cereal-themed fun park has seen a sharp decrease in attendance since opening in 1998. Michigan Visiting Nurses are coming to campus this afternoon to give flu and pneumonia vaccinations. They will be in the Wolverine Room of the Michigan Union fromr noon to 4 p.m. Flu shots cost $33 and pneumonia shots cost $82. l4 t t h Fi jicoup l eader' va assumes top post " SUVA, Fiji (AP) - Fiji's military chief took office today as the South Pacific nation's interim prime min- ister, formally assuming the power he seized by force one month ago in an armed coup. Commodore Frank Bainimarama promised to be "a true and faithful prime minister" during a swearing in ceremony in Fiji's capital, Suva. Bainimarama was sworn in by former President Ratu Josefa Iloilo, whom he reinstated to the largely ceremonial post yesterday. The military chief seized power in a bloodless coup Dec. 5. He dis- solved the Cabinet, suspended Par- liament and deposed both Iloilo and elected Prime Minister Laise- nia Qarase, whom he banished to his home island 190 miles north of Suva. The coup - Fiji's fourth in nearly two decades - was the culmination of a long impasse between Bainima- rama and Qarase over bills offering pardons to conspirators in a 2000 coup and handing lucrative coast- al land ownership to indigenous Fijians. Bainimarama, himself an indigenous Fijian, said the bills were unfair to the island's ethnic Indian minority. The military ruler initially assumed presidential powers. But he relinquish that claim and rein- stated Iloilo after a dispute with the country's influential Great Council of Chiefs, which has strong influence among Fiji's politically dominant indigenous majority. The council had maintained that both Qarase and Iloilo were the legiti- mate powers. 4 0