Last year, many students were outraged when they learned that Washington University had decided to award an honorary doctorate to Phyllis Schlafly. This decision was announced only a few weeks before commencement, leaving no time for students who were upset by the decision to have any influence. Though it may be too late for students in the Class of 2009 to influence who will speak and receive degrees at this year’s commencement, the Class of 2010 can still have a say if they begin to act now.

Recently, the University ran an advertisement in the pages of Student Life informing juniors that now is the time to nominate honorary degree recipients and commencement speakers for 2010, and that they can send in their requests by email to Ida Early.

Juniors should begin thinking now about who they want to represent Washington University, rather than waiting until the names have already been chosen before expressing their disapproval.

It is all too easy for students to ignore the process of selecting a speaker and degree recipients. With their commencement more than a year away, many juniors may instead be tempted to focus on their short term obligations, and trust that the University will select a speaker and degree recipients that they will approve. However, with the consecutive selection of two political pundits as commencement speaker and the controversial selection of Schlafly as a degree recipient, it is clear that this cannot be taken for granted.

Juniors should certainly take the opportunity to request their favored commencement speakers, but their efforts to become involved in the process should not end there. Students can coordinate their efforts by discussing options amongst their peers and coming to a group decision, in order to make their suggestions more effective. Furthermore, they should follow up on their requests by emailing the student representatives on the board that makes the selections to find out who is being considered.

The Class of 2010 has the chance to avoid some of the disappointments of their predecessors by acting now to involve themselves in the selection of commencement speakers and degree recipients. They should not take it for granted that they will be pleased with the selections, and they should not waste the opportunity to influence the final decision.