PETER SCHWORM'S article "Speaking volumes: Local colleges vie to entice a breezier lineup to commencement podium" (City & Region, May 11) is right on target regarding commencement speakers. However, he should have given more space to those schools that choose not to bring in the big-name speakers.
Dean College, whose ceremony you listed in the same edition, features its graduates as speakers. This garners more and better listening and involvement by the graduates. Last Saturday's commencement ceremony featured three women who delivered extraordinary speeches to their peers. Each received strong responses from the graduates and their families and guests.
In the words of your reporter (as told to by another school's official): This puts "the spotlight squarely on the stars of the show": the graduates.
P. GERARD SHAW
Franklin
The writer is associate professor of business at Dean College.
