Having been a school president for nearly twenty years, I do know that selecting the precise valedictorian will be fraught with risk

The inaugural 2024 season was probably the most controversial in recent memory. Amid pro-Palestinian protests at universities across the country over the war in Gaza, some universities – akin to Columbia University and that University of Southern California – have canceled their opening ceremonies. Others, akin to Duke Universityhave drawn harsh rebukes and condemnations from students due to their university's alternative of a valedictorian. Still others, akin to Xavier University of Louisianahave withdrawn invitations to keynote speakers that were deemed too controversial.

To gain insight into the challenges colleges face when choosing a commencement speaker, The Conversation turned to Walter M. Kimbrough, a longtime college president who currently holds a leadership position University of Southern California. His thoughts are reflected in the next questions and answers.

How are entry-level speakers typically chosen?

There are several ways schools select valedictorian speakers. For some campuses, there may be a university-wide committee that makes selections which might be presented to the president for approval. Some colleges survey students to get recommendations for the speaker. In many locations, the president—and maybe a bunch of advisers—selects the speaker. In any case, the president can have a say in the choice.

Who has probably the most say and why?

Ultimately, the president has the ultimate say in selection, especially when a speaker has the potential to be controversial. Ultimately, if there may be an issue with what a speaker says or does, the president have to be accountable for the choice.

What are a very powerful characteristics or qualities to think about?

There are numerous philosophies that come into play when choosing entry-level speakers. Some institutions use this as a possibility to spotlight successful alumni, often within the hope that that alumnus will grow to be a significant donor to the institution.

Both local and national politicians are sometimes chosen as speakers. Many view this as a goodwill gesture for a politician who represents the institution and will have influence in helping the institution raise resources.

Institutions with significant undergraduate budgets or good contacts select a celeb to start their studies. The theory there may be that commencement is the largest branding event for a school or university annually. A star increases visibility and provides the potential for national media coverage, each in print and digital. It is at all times a coup for an establishment's speaker to attend the annual event NBC Nightly News final recap.

What makes a gap speech successful?

I feel the start ought to be fun. A speaker who can connect with the audience or create excitement results in a successful speech. The easiest method to do that is to make use of a very talked-about beginner speaker. For example, as president of Dillard University – a small, historically black, private liberal arts college in New Orleans – we now have welcomed celebrities akin to: Michelle Obama, Denzel Washington, Janelle MonaeChance the rapper, Regina Hall And Michael Ealy.

From the time of the announcement to the speaker's actual appearance, enthusiasm for the event grows not only among the many graduates, but in addition their families and the broader community. The actual speech ought to be short, not than quarter-hour, because their presence alone gives the graduates a really special feeling that day.

Why does choosing so many entry-level speakers backfire?

Most opening speeches go easily, generally since the speaker is unknown to the audience and there may be little interest in his or her message. Campuses generally select someone who’s secure and non-controversial.

When things backfire, it's generally since the speaker says something that seems out of character or inconsistent with previous comments. In recent years there was a contentious political climate, politicians and other government officials pose a greater risk of onset.

This might appear like the recent actions of Virginia Commonwealth University graduates has failed Governor Glenn Youngkin when he gave the opening speech or gave a more controversial protest that at Bethune-Cookman University when former Education Secretary Betsy DeVos was the speaker. Not only did some students walk out, but others turned their backs on her and plenty of within the audience booed her throughout the presentation. When the then-President intervened and threatened to accomplish that Send students their diplomas by mailhe was also booed.

And sometimes a normally good idea happens on the fallacious time. Morehouse College chosen President Joe Biden as its speaker for the 2024 inauguration early last fall. Then October 7 modified every thing, resulting in months of protests on college campuses as Israel continued its assault on Hamas, leaving tens of 1000’s of Palestinians injured or killed. While Biden wouldn’t have been probably the most exciting speaker for college kids, given some concerns that guarantees to Black communities won’t be kept, the event likely would have passed without controversy. That's the way it was back when Biden spoke at Howard University in 2023 or in 2021 at South Carolina State University.

Push the boundaries or play it secure?

Today, an increasing number of presidents are risk averse because of the political climate and the myriad stressors they’re currently facing. For most, creating potential conflict with a dangerous commencement speaker isn't value it. So you play it secure and boring.

As a school president, I've at all times tried to search out people we've never heard before on a platform like this. It's a risk, however the audience was pleasantly surprised each time. When we hosted actor Michael Ealy, he gave probably the most thought-provoking commencement speeches we now have ever had, leading many faculty members to comment that he can have been one of the best during my tenure – including Denzel Washington's speech, which went viral.

For me it's not a lot about playing it secure. The starting is a celebration and ought to be fun. An entertaining and exciting commencement speaker is a very important a part of this equation.

Is an unpopular alternative necessarily the fallacious alternative?

There's at all times the possibility that an unpopular alternative as an entry-level speaker will end in a nice surprise. So this isn't necessarily the fallacious alternative. But someone embroiled in current or past controversies is at all times the fallacious alternative, increasing the likelihood that criticism of the institution might be raised and the mood for the occasion dampened. If you understand that a speaker may cause students to depart the event or spark protests, you could have made the fallacious alternative at this point.