Graduation speakers

[scubastevefl]

Notre Dame is of course having VP Pence, Holy Cross College got ND grad and LA Tech football coach Skip Holtz. Skip also attended HCC when it was a JC. Not sure who is speaking at St. Mary's?

Anybody got a preference?

 

[OneillIrish]

Notre Dame is of course having VP Pence, Holy Cross College got ND grad and LA Tech football coach Skip Holtz. Skip also attended HCC when it was a JC. Not sure who is speaking at St. Mary's?

Anybody got a preference?

I'm very disappointed in the ND admin breaking with tradition and not inviting Trump, after the tradition was used to justify inviting Obama (and rightfully so)

I can't see myself responding to another of their donation requests until a change is made or a reasonable explanation Ian given

ND admin has absolutely no business getting into political specifics in this type of one-sides manner

 

[Quest4Twelve]

I'm very disappointed in the ND admin breaking with tradition and not inviting Trump, after the tradition was used to justify inviting Obama (and rightfully so)

I can't see myself responding to another of their donation requests until a change is made or a reasonable explanation Ian given

ND admin has absolutely no business getting into political specifics in this type of one-sides manner

Wouldn't expect anything else from you. All of a sudden Trump found the cure for cancer.

 

[echowaker]

I'm very disappointed in the ND admin breaking with tradition and not inviting Trump, after the tradition was used to justify inviting Obama (and rightfully so)

I can't see myself responding to another of their donation requests until a change is made or a reasonable explanation Ian given

ND admin has absolutely no business getting into political specifics in this type of one-sides manner

I m sure they ll survive without your sawbuck.

 

[OneillIrish]

Wouldn't expect anything else from you. All of a sudden Trump found the cure for cancer.

???

I defended the Obama invitation back when I was just starting school too.

It's pathetic in wrong for the ND admin to want to uphold tradition for a controversial candidate on one side, but then break it on the other.

They don't have any business taking up specific political sides like that.

I barely even count as a smalltime donor, so the loss of my few hundred dollars a year certainly won't make them take notice. However I do know several dollars more in the 30 K a year range that feel the same way.

However, perhaps there's enough people who will donate more because the stance to negate it, who knows.

I can only hope that the political activism by the ND admin will cost them so much money, that the learn that it's totally unacceptable.

So like I said, I can't see myself responding to another one of their donation request until they offer a reasonable explanation, or significant changes are made in their personnel and decision-making process.

 

[echowaker]

???

I defended the Obama invitation back why and I was just starting school too.

It's pathetic in wrong for the end the admin to want to uphold tradition for a controversial candidate on one side, but then break it on the other.

They don't have any business taking up specific political sides like that.

I barely even count as a smalltime donor, so the loss of my few hundred dollars a year certainly won't make them take notice. However I do know several dollars more in the 30 K a year range that feel the same way.

However, perhaps there's enough people who will donate more because the stance to negate it, who knows.

I can only hope that the political activism by the ND admin will cost them so much money, that the learn that it's totally unacceptable.

So like I said, I can't see myself responding to another one of their donation request until they offer a reasonable explanation, or significant changes are made in their personnel and decision-making process.

Yawn...

 

[OneillIrish]

I m sure they ll survive without your sawbuck.

Like I said in my other post, the loss of my few hundred dollars Per year won't make the slightest bit of difference.

Heck, even the loss of hundreds of thousands of dollars that all their alarms have told me they're going to stop donating won't even leave a scratch

But it's possible that these attempts by many alums to make The ND admin aware of are just staying for their actions, could prompt the changes that I'm hoping to see.

Either way, my stance that it's both pathetic and wrong for the ND admin to uphold tradition for a controversial candidate in one party, but then break it for the other, stands.

I've been very disappointed by my alma mater recently.

 

[OneillIrish]

Yawn...

Well thought out, quality response. Really focused on content and discussion.

There's basically no reason anyone should write off your opinion as uneducated, based on a response like this…

 

[Ara64]

I don't remember hearing Notre Dame's Alma Mater before the 2005 season. I remember ABC always aired the Victory March during their telecast. That's the song that gets my blood stirring---it speaks to my fan's heart. I could care less who ND invites to speak at commencement.

 

[echowaker]

Well thought out, quality response. Really focused on content and discussion.

There's basically no reason anyone should write off your opinion as uneducated, based on a response like this…

It was not a response. It was a reaction to your incessant bloviating.

 

[OneillIrish]

It was not a response. It was a reaction to your incessant bloviating.

It was a worthless, content less, on educated post. Nothing more nothing less.

If you're capable of responding to the topic with a meaningful post, filled with thoughtful content, please do.

Otherwise, sit quietly in the corner, and watch the grown-ups talk.

Your crap is a perfect example of where the real problems are in our political system. Morons like you make it very hard to have a meaningful, educated, thought based conversation.

 

[SeanPol355]

One, you apparently fail to realize there are far more things to like, or love, about ND that transcend political differences. Although Ara and I may disagree on a few (several?) political points, we put our love for ND first. Donations may ebb and flow because of economic issues but I doubt that it will vary at all because of a Commencement speaker.

 

[scubastevefl]

I apologize to the board for starting this thread

 

[BGI User 1596]

One, you apparently fail to realize there are far more things to like, or love, about ND that transcend political differences. Although Ara and I may disagree on a few (several?) political points, we put our love for ND first. Donations may ebb and flow because of economic issues but I doubt that it will vary at all because of a Commencement speaker.

Ginger Safehouse

 

[OneillIrish]

One, you apparently fail to realize there are far more things to like, or love, about ND that transcend political differences. Although Ara and I may disagree on a few (several?) political points, we put our love for ND first. Donations may ebb and flow because of economic issues but I doubt that it will vary at all because of a Commencement speaker.

I'm assuming this was meant for me.

And there are a TON of things to like about ND, obviously. I love my school.

But I won't support an admin that's acting in such a politcally biased and unethical manner. It's simply not okay.

I defended this admin for a long time, especially as it relates to inviting Obama, but this move is indefensible now.

I don't have an issue with any person, and I'm always ready to put mutually respect of a person first.
But the behavior of the ND admin here is not something I can support.....and I know several other alums who feel the same way.

Hopefully the admin goes ahead and makes some significant personnel and policy changes and I can get back on board soon.

 

[beachcardinal]

Wouldn't expect anything else from you. All of a sudden Trump found the cure for cancer.

If Trump found the cure for cancer the media would report he is putting doctors out of work.

 

[TOMMY_23]

No right-wing person is allowed to speak at UC-Berkeley. Liberals hate freedom of speech if they don't agree with what you're saying. Frankly, it's pathetic.

 

[TOMMY_23]

It was a worthless, content less, on educated post. Nothing more nothing less.

If you're capable of responding to the topic with a meaningful post, filled with thoughtful content, please do.

Otherwise, sit quietly in the corner, and watch the grown-ups talk.

Your crap is a perfect example of where the real problems are in our political system. Morons like you make it very hard to have a meaningful, educated, thought based conversation.

Echo has been hit in the head too many times to be able to come up with a coherent thought.

 

[scubastevefl]

I was just wondering who you all would like as a graduation speaker, geese

 

[TOMMY_23]

I was just wondering who you all would like as a graduation speaker, geese

Anne Coulter or Dinesh D'Souza.

 

[THUNDERSTRUCK111]

Condoleeza rice

 

[NDEwing18]

I'm very disappointed in the ND admin breaking with tradition and not inviting Trump, after the tradition was used to justify inviting Obama (and rightfully so)

I can't see myself responding to another of their donation requests until a change is made or a reasonable explanation Ian given

ND admin has absolutely no business getting into political specifics in this type of one-sides manner

Clinton didn't speak (though I don't know if that's because he wasn't "invited" or because he had another conflict), but I don't see the invitation of the sitting president as a "tradition".

Considering the VP was invited, I don't consider this a "political" decision. I tend to think that the ND administration was more concerned with the fact that Trump is often a loose cannon during his speeches.

 

[OneillIrish]

Clinton didn't speak (though I don't know if that's because he wasn't "invited" or because he had another conflict), but I don't see the invitation of the sitting president as a "tradition".

Considering the VP was invited, I don't consider this a "political" decision. I tend to think that the ND administration was more concerned with the fact that Trump is often a loose cannon during his speeches.

You're simply wrong about the tradition then. That's not really up for debate.

Clinton spoke at ND in 1992, was invited to come back for graduation, but I believe he declined after having spoke there so recently.

Nearly every president since Eisenhower has been ND's graduation speaker in his 1st year following his 1st election.

This was a tradition that the current ND Admin broke, in order to not invite Trump, after explicitly relying on it to invite Obama.

This is not only pathetic and hypocritical, but it's simply wrong.
(and thus my issue, and many other alums, with the current ND Admin taking specific political stances)

 

[BGI User 348]

PENCE!!!! MAGA!!!!

 

[beachcardinal]

Clinton didn't speak (though I don't know if that's because he wasn't "invited" or because he had another conflict), but I don't see the invitation of the sitting president as a "tradition".

Considering the VP was invited, I don't consider this a "political" decision. I tend to think that the ND administration was more concerned with the fact that Trump is often a loose cannon during his speeches.

Wait. They did not invite hm because they were not confident about what he would say? That's frightening. Do they demand advanced drafts?

 

[NDEwing18]

Wait. They did not invite hm because they were not confident about what he would say? That's frightening. Do they demand advanced drafts?

That's just me speculating. Trump tends to ramble on about anything and everything. I'm guessing they wanted someone who would give the type of commencement speech that everyone generally expects.

 

[BGI User 1596]

Wait. They did not invite hm because they were not confident about what he would say? That's frightening. Do they demand advanced drafts?

Obama will wiretap a copy and send it in.

 

[beachcardinal]

That's just me speculating. Trump tends to ramble on about anything and everything. I'm guessing they wanted someone who would give the type of commencement speech that everyone generally expects.

Really? You think they didn't want the President because he wasn't a good enough speaker?

 

[NDEwing18]

Really? You think they didn't want the President because he wasn't a good enough speaker?

I didn't say he wasn't a "good enough" speaker. I said that he was generally unpredictable.

 

[BGI User 1596]

I didn't say he wasn't a "good enough" speaker. I said that he was generally unpredictable.

He can borrow Oblamebush's TelePrompTer......remember what a blathering idiot he was without it!

 

[NDEwing18]

He can borrow Oblamebush's TelePrompTer......remember what a blathering idiot he was without it!

Obama seemed just fine without a teleprompter.

 

[twalsh]

Obama seemed just fine without a teleprompter.

When was he "fine" without a teleprompter?

 

[NDEwing18]

When was he "fine" without a teleprompter?

He's perfectly fine speaking off the cuff. You act like he's a moron.

 

[twalsh]

He's perfectly fine speaking off the cuff. You act like he's a moron.

He's a smart articulate guy, but any time I saw him in oration mode, versus conversational mode, he seemed to struggle when he didn't have a teleprompter. Just an observation.

 

[BGI User 1596]

He's a smart articulate guy, but any time I saw him in oration mode, versus conversational mode, he seemed to struggle when he didn't have a teleprompter. Just an observation.

He was lost in space without it! Lols

 

[NDEwing18]

He's a smart articulate guy, but any time I saw him in oration mode, versus conversational mode, he seemed to struggle when he didn't have a teleprompter. Just an observation.

For what it's worth, I would imagine everyone is better with a teleprompter.

When he gave a stump speech, he didn't seem to be any different than most other people.

 

[beachcardinal]

I didn't say he wasn't a "good enough" speaker. I said that he was generally unpredictable.

So..ND will not invite speakers unless they can predict what they will say? Why is that important? What ideas are they trying to keep a speaker from saying?

 

[NDEwing18]

So..ND will not invite speakers unless they can predict what they will say? Why is that important? What ideas are they trying to keep a speaker from saying?

Don't you think the potential content of what a speaker says is important in any instance in which you are deciding who to invite?

 

[OneillIrish]

Don't you think the potential content of what a speaker says is important in any instance in which you are deciding who to invite?

That didn't stop ND from inviting Obama and several other democratic speakers who's content/stances are diametrically opposed to ND/Catholic stances

Again, it simply boils down to the ND admin making specific, partisan political statements...which isn't something I'm okay with (and I'm not the only alumn that feels this way)

ND's has the "right" to act this way, but then everyone who takes issue with it has the "right" to punish them for it in whatever way we're able, and attempt to make sure it doesn't continue.

That's what's happening here.

 

[beachcardinal]

Don't you think the potential content of what a speaker says is important in any instance in which you are deciding who to invite?

This goes to my question above; does ND ask for the content in advance? If so, do they think Trump would lie about it? If not, why just Trump?

The idea that a university would not invite the President out of fear of something he might say seems ridiculous to me, but I am unfamiliar why ND's policy. If you are asserting this is true, I guess I need to accept it. But can you cite some support? Most schools see getting the US President as great complement to the school and affirmation for the students. I have never heard of one living in fear over a President's remarks.