Bill Schneider to speak at graduation
by Claire Moses
News | 3/18/08
Posted online at 11:06 AM EST on 3/24/08
CNN senior political analyst Bill Schneider '66 will be the keynote speaker at Brandeis' 57th commencement ceremony May 18, University spokeswoman Lorna Miles said.
On that day, he will also receive an honorary Doctorate of Humane Letters from the University. Schneider is also the recipient of an Alumni Achievement Award.
Schneider joined CNN in 1991, according to the network's Web site. He is on television almost every night commenting on politics, which currently mostly entails dissecting the race for the 2008 presidency.
During commencement, five other individuals will also receive honorary degrees, including at least one other Brandeis alum, Miles said.
"We're pretty solid," Miles said about the other degree recipients, but could not confirm any names yet.
"The president likes to announce late" in order to prevent unforeseen circumstances, Miles said.
Miles was referring to last year's unforeseen circumstances, when the University invited Pulitzer Prize-winning journalist David Halberstam to be the commencement speaker. Halberstam was killed in a car crash a few weeks before the ceremony, and New York Times columnist Thomas Friedman '75 was invited at the last minute.
In the spring of 2002, Schneider was the Fred and Rita Richman Distinguished Visiting Professor for a semester at Brandeis, teaching a class on America's electorate titled "the American voter." In addition to his work at CNN, Schneider has written extensively on politics and public opinion for The New Republic, The Atlantic Monthly, The Washington Post and other publications.
The honorary degree recipients are chosen from a pool of candidates, Miles said. Letters are written to nominate people, which are reviewed by an honorary degree committee.
The committee reviews each letter, votes, and then inquiries are made to choose the commencement speaker and other honorary degree recipients. The commencement speaker is always an honorary degree recipient.
"We try to look for people who made contributions to the Arts or Sciences … that reflects the structure of our school," Miles said.
On that day, he will also receive an honorary Doctorate of Humane Letters from the University. Schneider is also the recipient of an Alumni Achievement Award.
Schneider joined CNN in 1991, according to the network's Web site. He is on television almost every night commenting on politics, which currently mostly entails dissecting the race for the 2008 presidency.
During commencement, five other individuals will also receive honorary degrees, including at least one other Brandeis alum, Miles said.
"We're pretty solid," Miles said about the other degree recipients, but could not confirm any names yet.
"The president likes to announce late" in order to prevent unforeseen circumstances, Miles said.
Miles was referring to last year's unforeseen circumstances, when the University invited Pulitzer Prize-winning journalist David Halberstam to be the commencement speaker. Halberstam was killed in a car crash a few weeks before the ceremony, and New York Times columnist Thomas Friedman '75 was invited at the last minute.
In the spring of 2002, Schneider was the Fred and Rita Richman Distinguished Visiting Professor for a semester at Brandeis, teaching a class on America's electorate titled "the American voter." In addition to his work at CNN, Schneider has written extensively on politics and public opinion for The New Republic, The Atlantic Monthly, The Washington Post and other publications.
The honorary degree recipients are chosen from a pool of candidates, Miles said. Letters are written to nominate people, which are reviewed by an honorary degree committee.
The committee reviews each letter, votes, and then inquiries are made to choose the commencement speaker and other honorary degree recipients. The commencement speaker is always an honorary degree recipient.
"We try to look for people who made contributions to the Arts or Sciences … that reflects the structure of our school," Miles said.
Viewing Comments 1 - 1 of 1
Sam
posted 3/24/08 @ 12:07 PM EST
I took Prof. Schneider's course in '02. He was very generous with his time and despite his schedule was far more helpful than many of my Brandeis Prof's. (Continued…)
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