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Speaking
Out
Disappointed
by Selection
I
am very disappointed to read that Archbishop Tutu
has been selected as the commencement speaker in 2003 (Almanac November
5). If memory does not fail me, he had expressed
anti-Israeli sentiment and I would be grateful for
evaluation of this fact.
--
Malcolm R. Freedman, C
'59, D '64, GM '67
Response
Archbishop
Desmond Tutu was selected to receive an honorary degree
at Penn and to speak at Commencement in recognition
of his profound contributions to human rights and
of his visionary leadership in healing a society wracked
by injustice and violence. The honor Penn will bestow
upon Archbishop Tutu does not imply an endorsement
of every one of his public statements, only of his
undeniable and fundamental role in ending apartheid
in South Africa and overseeing the work of that country's
Truth and Reconciliation Commission. Given the great
diversity of the Penn community, it is unlikely that
each member will approve of all recipients of the
University's honorary degrees. The criterion for selecting
the awardees ensures, however, that they are all most
worthy of the honor.
--
Leslie Laird Kruhly, Secretary
Speaking
Out welcomes reader contributions.
Short, timely letters on
University issues will be
accepted by Thursday at noon
for the following Tuesday's
issue, subject to right-of-reply
guidelines. Advance
notice of intention to submit is
appreciated. --Eds.
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Almanac, Vol. 49, No. 16, December 17, 2002
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