Whitten to deliver both commencement speeches at Indiana University in 2023
In a slight break from tradition, Indiana University Bloomington will not have an outside guest commencement speaker for either of its graduate and undergraduate ceremonies next week. Instead, President Pamela Whitten will take the reins at both graduations, the first time an IU president has done so since 2006.
IU commencement speakers of the past: Ireland president, Nobel Prize winner, television host
Catalogued by the university archives, IU has had a illustrious list of commencement speakers, with records dating back as early as 1892. In recent history, the stage has been shared with 27-time Grammy Award winner Quincy Jones, Vera Bradley Designs co-founder Patricia R. Miller and "Myth Busters" co-host Jamie Hyneman. Other past keynote speakers include a state supreme court chief justice, the then-president of Ireland, and numerous notable IU alumni.
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In their address, the speakers often take 15 to 20 minutes to reflect on their humble beginnings, which for many includes walking across the Bloomington campus as students themselves.
Last year, 2022's undergraduate class heard from Bob Chapek, IU alumnus and then-chief executive officer of the Walt Disney Company. At the time of his speech, Chapek was in the midst of some controversy for remaining silent while Florida's "Don't say gay" legislation became a hot debate on the national stage.
This year marks a break from recent tradition in a few ways. According to university archives, the graduate and undergraduate ceremonies, taking place May 6 and 7 respectively this year, have had different keynote speakers at least since 2010. With the exceptions of the undergraduate class's speaker being then-IU Provost Lauren Robel in 2021 and the graduate ceremony speaker in 2010, IU professor and Nobel Prize winner Elinor Ostrom, the keynote speaker has consistently been an invited guest, rather than a current employee of the university, since 2007.
More: Disney CEO to speak at IU graduation amid 'Don't say gay' controversy. Students react.
Whitten will give the commencement speech at both spring graduations. The last time that an IU president filled this role was during Adam Herbert's tenure in the early 2000s. University spokesperson Amanda Roach declined to comment when asked why a guest commencement speaker was not selected for either ceremony, though she did note each ceremony will feature additional student speakers.
The 2023 graduating class will still hear words of encouragement from a noted alumnus. This year, IU's honorary degree recipient is James T. Morris, vice chairman of Pacers Sports & Entertainment, which owns both the Indiana Pacers and the Indiana Fever. In addition to being an IU graduate, he served twice on the IU Board of Trustees before his retirement in 2022. While receiving an honorary Doctor of Humane Letters during the undergraduate ceremony, Morris will share a few remarks.
The graduate commencement ceremony will be May 5 at 4 p.m. at Simon Skjodt Assembly Hall while the undergraduate class will be celebrated on May 6 at 10 a.m. at Memorial Stadium.
This article originally appeared on The Herald-Times: Indiana University president Whitten to deliver commencement speech
