University Reporter: May 1999
"Justice" Will be the Subject of June 5 Commencement Address
Congressman John Lewis of Georgia and Christopher Patten, chairperson of the Independent Commission of Northern Ireland and the last British governor of Hong Kong will be this year's Commencement speakers. Both gentleman will address the subject of justice, Lewis from an national perspective and Patten from an international perspective. The University's 40th commencement exercises will be held on Saturday, June 5 at the Bayside Exposition Center. The main ceremony begins at 10:30 a.m., followed by the individual college ceremonies.
Congressman Lewis, a strict follower of nonviolent social protest, received his B.A. from Fisk University in 1967. He organized numerous sit-ins, freedom rides, and protest marches throughout the south in the 1960's. Lewis spent the first half of the 1960's serving as chairman of the Student Nonviolent Coordinating Committee. This position was followed by his work as a grass roots organizer for the Field Foundation, directing its Voter Education Project. In 1977, he was appointed by President James Carter as director of U.S. operations for ACTION, a federal agency that oversees various economic recovery programs on the community level. In the early 1980's he served on Atlanta's City Council before being elected to the Fifth Congressional District of Georgia, the position he still holds today.
The last British Governor of Hong Kong, Christopher Patten currently holds a crucial role in the Irish peace process by serving as chairman of the Independent Commission, an international commission looking into ways to reform the police in Northern Ireland. Patten was Minister for Northern Ireland in the early 1980's, a particularly tense time in that country's history, and is regarded in both the Protestant and Catholic communities as one of the best ministers to have served there. A scholar and statesman, Patten's book, East and West: China, Power and the Future of Asia, was chosen as one of the best books of 1998 by The New York Times.
In addition to delivering the commencement address both Lewis and Patten will receive honorary degrees along with Judith Jamison, artistic director of the Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater; Daniel Goleman, behavioral science writer and author of Emotional Intelligence and the sequel Working with Emotional Intelligence; and Donald Rodman, philanthropist and successful businessman.
All members of the University community are invited to attend Commencement. Please bring your university identification card for admittance.
WUMB 91.9 to broadcast commencement address on June 6
If you are unable to attend commencement but are interested in hearing Congressman John Lewis and Christopher Patten's commencement address, tune into WUMB 91.9 FM on Sunday evening, June 6. The station will present a live broadcast of the entire address.