Today, President Obama will deliver the commencement address at the University of Notre Dame in South Bend, IN, and there has been a substantial outcry from many in the Catholic community about the school allowing him to speak and receive and honorary degree. Specifically, many argue that as a Catholic institution, Notre Dame should not recognize and honor a man whose certain views differ so much from the Catholic Church. Fair enough. I personally don't care one way or the other who a private institution invites to speak and why, and if people are upset by this they should speak out (even though I think it's pointless to spend so much time and energy protesting something that will be forgotten by Tuesday morning). I do, however, need to take issue with an interview I saw Friday morning on CNN's American Morning.
On Friday, a Notre Dame senior named Emily Toates gave an interview to CNN's Kiran Chetry on why she is "boycotting her own graduation." Now, on the surface this may seem like a thoughtful person giving up something that is very important to her -- participation in the culmination of her college career -- to protest a more serious issue (although an insignificant one). She obviously feels strongly enough about this situation to not join her family and classmates, get a chance to cross the symbolic stage, be handed her diploma, move her tassel, or get memorable pictures taken. But wait: she still gets to do all those things.
When I graduated from Geneseo State University, we had one ceremony where everyone walked the stage, and our commencement address was given by Mayor Robert Duffy of Rochester (who was a bit unfairly upstaged when Senator Charles Schumer showed up and gave his own address). However, this is not the case at Notre Dame. Ms. Toates said Friday morning:
"I am fortunate though, Notre Dame does a kind of two-part graduation. I’m graduating with my department on Saturday, which is where we actually walk across the stage, receive the diploma, move our tassels. The graduation on Sunday is a group event… It’s a group graduation, there’s no individual recognition at that. So I will get the opportunity to receive the diploma, walk across the stage, and be there with my classmates."
So, what exactly is Ms. Toates giving up to protest the higher injustice of having the president of the United States address her school? How is this not simply an empty gesture? How is this news story not a waste of my time?
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