Eric Holder, U.S. Attorney General, CC '73, Law '76, and a Columbia trustee, has been invited as Columbia Class Day Speaker. Holder, the first African American to head the Justice Department, is now the first choice of the senior class council, according to class representative Colin Felsman, CC '12.
Holder is the second Columbia alumnus in a row to hold the position, succeeding Michael Mukasey, CC ’63. An active member of the Morningside Heights community from within and beyond the Columbia gates during his time as a student, Holder volunteered at a Harlem youth center and joined Concerned Black Men, an organization of male mentors for teens.
Holder has since maintained ties to the University as a member of the Board of Trustees. Administrators have commended his commitment to Columbia, noting his strong involvement and governance on the board.
“I think it’s a great appointment, it’s great for Columbia,” University President Lee Bollinger said in a phone interview in November 2008. “He’s been a very good trustee—attending meetings, listening, commenting, adding important points to the conversation.”
In addition to serving as deputy attorney general in the Clinton administration, Holder was also the U.S. attorney for the District of Columbia, a federal judge on the court bench in Washington, and a Justice Department prosecutor, where he became known for his aggressive attacks on corruption. He most recently served as a partner at the DC law firm Covington & Burling before Obama tapped him. If Holder accepts the invitation, he would speak within days of Secretary of State Hillary Clinton's address at Barnard's commencement.
The CC Class Day speaker must be somehow affiliated with the University. Last semester, the CC '09 class representatives solicited nominations for 25 potential names, and the class of 2009 was given the opportunity to vote among them. The top 8 was presented to the committee, which proceeded with the selection process.
Joel Klein, CC '67 and chancellor of the New York City Department of Education, spoke at Class Day last year. Although his speech was generally well-received, many seniors were disappointed with the choice—especially since Klein’s boss, Mayor Michael Bloomberg, seemed to upstage him by speaking at Barnard. “Lost” actor Matthew Fox, CC '89 and a former wide receiver on Columbia's football team, took to the podium the year before. The Class of 2006 was addressed by U.S. Senator John McCain (R-Ariz.), whose daughter Meghan graduated from Columbia one year later.
McCain's visit elicited small protests, in which students passed out 100 umbrellas and 800 buttons reading "McCain does not speak for me." Fox's speech was well-received, as he acknowledged the public skepticism surrounding his speech and challenged the graduating class to retain their autonomy.
In 2005, Robert Kraft, CC '63, former chair of the board of trustees, and owner of the New England Patriots, addressed the College's seniors. Pulitzer Prize-winning playwright Tony Kushner, CC '78, spoke in 2004.
Kim Kirschenbaum and Tom Faure contributed reporting to this article.
CORRECTION APPENDED: This article originally misstated Felsman's year and some details about the selection process. Spectator regrets the errors.
Comments
We're looking for comments that are interesting and substantial. If your comments are excessively self-promotional or obnoxious you will be banned from commenting. Consult the comment FAQ and legal terms.