Student Life

Issue date: 5/5/08 Section: News

Media Credit: David Brody Chris Matthews interviews a student during a broadcast of MSNBC's "Hardball" live from outside Graham Chapel for the 2004 presidential debate. He will return to campus for Commencement on May 16.

Chris Matthews, host of MSNBC's "Hardball," will deliver the keynote address at Washington University's 147th Commencement on May 16.

Chancellor Mark Wrighton says Matthews is a good choice because he is in touch with current social and political issues.

"Chris Matthews continues to be an important figure in the national news media with respect to the American political process," Wrighton said in a University press release. "He is familiar with both Washington University and the pressing challenges that face our society today-challenges that our new graduates will be working to overcome and address."

Former Student Union President Neil Patel, a member of the committee that helped select the Commencement speaker, says having Matthews speak is a good way to promote political participation.

"Chris Matthews is an excellent choice for people on campus who are politically aware. He's an exciting person. He has definite name recognition. He'll get people's interest piqued," Patel, a graduating senior, said.

Patel added that in the future, the committee should select speakers who are more connected to the University.

"In the future it would be good for the University to focus on people who have stronger ties to the University and aren't mass-market Commencement speakers," Patel said. "Someone who has a strong connection with the University, who can share in our experience, can be an effective and motivational speaker."

In addition to political issues, Patel hopes Matthews will address the broader role of college graduates in the world today.

"I hope [Matthews] will be speaking about what role we can play in the U.S. as a whole, not just in the political arena," Patel said. "What he thinks the biggest challenges we face as students are, how we've been prepared for that."

In recent years, Commencement has featured other political figures such as Tim Russert, host of NBC's "Meet the Press" and former British Prime Minister John Major. Patel says that the University should not rely on the assumption that speakers involved in the political sphere will increase political involvement on campus.

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