A s the final weeks of my senior year come to a close, I have taken the time to sit back and reflect on my last four years at the George Washington University.
College has been such a transformational experience in stimulating my intellectual curiosity as well as cultivating a responsibility to both express and challenge my own deeply held beliefs.
That is why it is so disheartening to see the representatives of these ideals politicize a joyous occasion planned by their academic institution.
Recently, former U.S. Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice declined an invitation to speak at Rutgers University’s commencement ceremony due to the “distraction” her presence has caused to the school community.
The announcement comes after roughly 50 students staged a sit-in protest in conjunction with a number of faculty members passing a resolution to disinvite Secretary Rice from speaking.
Rutgers President Robert Barchi was unapologetic in the choice, citing their appreciation of an impressive career and Secretary Rice’s commitment to furthering studies in all academic disciplines. President Barchi even reiterated his full support of having Secretary Rice join the Rutgers community for commencement after her withdrawal from the address.
It is an embarrassment that faculty members and students protested the commencement speech of one of our country’s most dignified and accomplished diplomats.
Whether or not you agree with the policies propagated by the George W. Bush administration, Secretary Rice has dedicated her entire life to academia and public service, and has been extremely open at discussing the complexities associated with American foreign policy before, during and after her tenure in Washington.
After growing up in a segregated neighborhood in Birmingham, Ala., Secretary Rice has demonstrated immense courage to not only rise above the hatred that was once ingrained within our society, but went on to achieve some of the highest honors a person can receive in their lifetime.
Secretary Rice has shattered so many glass ceilings and has truly paved the way for so many different groups of people to rise into positions of power. Her résumé as the first African-American woman to serve as the United States’ national security adviser, the first female African-American secretary of state, and as the provost of Stanford University makes her more than qualified to stand on that stage, regardless of whether she has an “R” or a “D” next to her name.
She is the embodiment of a dedicated and distinguished public servant who worked toward something bigger than herself during a time of intense conflict and heightened fear. Secretary Rice worked tirelessly to keep this country safe from internal and external threats and while the approaches to that security generate a contentious debate, it does not belong in a nonpolitical commencement speech.
This is not a partisan issue either. Brendan Buck, the press secretary to House Speaker John Boehner, and Jon Favreau, a former speech writer for President Barack Obama, exchanged tweets signifying their disapproval that such toxicity has resulted from a nonpolitical speech. Even in a polarized environment like Washington, D.C., respectable leaders know when things cross the line.
American universities are supposed to act as outlets of learning, pushing students to question their solidified principles and ideologies, while reinforcing our fundamental rights granted to us within the First Amendment of the U.S. Constitution.
Refusing to allow Secretary Rice to speak at a graduation ceremony because one’s political alignment and opinions on the way in which the Bush administration handled the Iraq War (given the context that they were operating out of) is a dangerous precedent to begin. We become better thinkers and leaders by listening and understanding a diverse array of perspectives. If we continue to follow the pathway of muting anyone who disagrees with our views, we will never be able to collectively come together as a nation.
Did Rutgers students and faculty have every right to protest Secretary Rice’s selection as their commencement speaker? Absolutely. Is there another word I would use for how far they took their tactics to alienate Secretary Rice from being welcomed into their community? Absolutely. It’s disgraceful.
Jonathan Carfagno of Marlboro is a graduating senior at George Washington University, Washington, D.C.