Dayhoff Soundtrack: Former Secretary of State Rice backs out of Rutgers commencement

Monday, May 05, 2014

Former Secretary of State Rice backs out of Rutgers commencement

May 3, 2014

According to Kristina Wong, writing for The Hill on May 3, 2014, “Former Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice declined Rutgers University’s invitation as commencement speaker after some students staged a sit-in protest of her support for the Iraq War. Read more here: http://thehill.com/blogs/blog-briefing-room/news/205115-condoleezza-rice-backs-out-of-rutgers-commencement

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However, Rutgers faculty at its New Brunswick campus approved a resolution calling for Rice to be disinvited to the May 18 ceremony, according to the National Review Online, citing the Bush’s administration’s “effort to mislead the American people about the presence of weapons of mass destruction.”

Students protested with signs calling Rice a “war criminal.”

On May 3, 2014, Secretary Rice said on her Facebook page, “Commencement should be a time of joyous celebration for the graduates and their families. Rutgers' invitation to me to speak has become a distraction for the university community at this very special time.

I am honored to have served my country. I have defended America's belief in free speech and the exchange of ideas. These values are essential to the health of our democracy. But that is not what is at issue here. As a Professor for thirty years at Stanford University and as its former Provost and Chief academic officer, I understand and embrace the purpose of the commencement ceremony and I am simply unwilling to detract from it in any way.

Good luck to the graduates and congratulations to the families, friends and loved ones who will gather to honor them.

Read more: http://thehill.com/blogs/blog-briefing-room/news/205115-condoleezza-rice-backs-out-of-rutgers-commencement Follow @thehill on Twitter | TheHill on Facebook

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