As seniors finalize plans for graduation, ranging from ensuring they have their caps and gowns ready to having family members’ flights booked, just one thing seemed to be missing: who their commencement speaker would be. After NFL Players Association Executive Director DeMaurice Smith spoke last year, many wondered whether another big name would be coming to the campus.
Last night, computers whirred as seniors checked to see who this year’s speaker would be. But for many, the announcement was a disappointment: John Berry, a largely unknown figure, will address this spring’s graduating class.
Many were left scratching their heads as to why the entirely student-run commencement speaker committee had picked Berry. Initially, this editorial board was worried the committee had made the wrong decision. But after learning Berry is not only the director of the U.S. Office of Personnel Management but also the highest-ranking openly gay member of the federal government and a university alumnus, we reconsidered.
Berry has counseled others on overcoming adversity and risen through the ranks to become one of the government’s top officials. In his current position, he is responsible for recruiting, hiring and setting benefits policies for 1.9 million federal employees.
A number of those who have seen him speak have already vouched for his ability to influence audiences, and he inevitably has a story to tell. He even made his own video for the 2010 “It Gets Better” campaign, which reaches out to youth to prevent suicide.
In his video, he says: “Young people should know that no matter how difficult the challenges are that they are facing right now, it does get better. Every individual is precious and our nation’s future rests on our ability to engage and inspire this new generation. You can be whatever you want. You can love whomever you want, but only if you first love yourself. Trust me. It’s worth it. It gets better.”
The inspirational nature of this alone should give seniors hope for a memorable graduation. This editorial board feels the committee’s choice to pick a leading figure in the fight for equality to speak makes a powerful statement.
And, on top of all of that, one of his initiatives is to fulfill President Barack Obama’s charge to “make government cool again,” according to the OPM’s website.
With the current state of the economy and seemingly bleak opportunities for graduating seniors, an influential member of the government speaking directly to students could be the uplifting voice they need before entering the workforce.
So while Berry’s name may not carry the same weight as Smith’s, Victoria Kennedy’s (wife of the late Sen. Ted Kennedy) or Gary Williams, who students successfully petitioned to have speak last year, Berry is a welcome change from the mass of well-known talking heads.
Additionally, this editorial board applauds the university for continuing to not pay its commencement speakers. Berry’s agreement to speak proves the university still has the ability to entice influential speakers without having to shell out tens of thousands of dollars.
Berry’s speech likely won’t come without controversy, though.
Having an openly gay man speak to this year’s graduating class is a bit of a risky move. Although Gov. Martin O’Malley signed same-sex marriage into law, the measure will most likely be put to referendum, meaning Marylanders will get to vote in November whether to uphold the law. While many students on the campus support same-sex marriage, some oppose it and others are largely apathetic to the issue as a whole.
This editorial board hopes Berry can find a way to appeal to all students and believes he has the potential to be an excellent speaker. Hopefully he can connect with seniors on some of the issues in which he has a strong basis of experiences: how to succeed after college and how to survive and persevere.
