McCain to Talk at CC Class Day

Arizona Senator John McCain will address graduating Columbia College seniors and their families at Columbia College Class Day on May 16.

The announcement was made Tuesday by Columbia College Dean Austin Quigley and Class of 2006 President Kwame Spearman, CC '06.

"He's one of the most influential people in the country," Spearman said. "He's also got an intimate relationship with Columbia because of his daughter, so he'll be able to give more than a run-of-the-mill speech." McCain's daughter, Megan, is a junior in the College.

"It will be incredibly interesting to see what a man of his stature has to say about Columbia," Spearman added.

The Republican senator, who lost the Republican presidential nomination to then-Texas Governor George W. Bush in 2000, is currently the Chairman of the Senate Committee on Indian Affairs. A graduate of the US Naval Academy, McCain served as a naval officer in 1958 and now is a member of the committees of Armed Services and Commerce, Science and Transportation.

Last May, McCain delivered a commencement speech at Northwestern University, where he was awarded an honorary doctor of laws degree. In 2004, he spoke at the University of Florida.