John Heller, Post-Gazette photos Chuck Stewart, left, and Janelle Pitca, sophomores at Saint Vincent College, listen to speeches made at a forum on the campus debating the decision to invite President Bush to speak at the school's commencement May 11.

By Dan Majors
Pittsburgh Post-Gazette LATROBE, Pa. -- Saint Vincent College President H. James Towey cannot remember who spoke at his commencement when he graduated from Florida State University in 1978.

But he's making sure the students graduating from Saint Vincent next month won't have that problem.

That, he said last night, was the reason why he invited President Bush to speak at May 11 graduation ceremonies at the Latrobe campus.

"I told the students that I was going to try to bring the best I could to this campus," said Mr. Towey, who left his job as director of the Office of Faith-Based and Community Initiatives at the White House nine months ago for the post at Saint Vincent. "This is a great opportunity for our students to hear the leader of the free world."

But the invitation to Mr. Bush has stirred strong feelings at the college, prompting student leaders to conduct a forum last night in the Robert S. Carey Student Center at which students supporting and opposing the visit could air their views.

An overflow crowd of more than 200 -- as well as a C-SPAN television crew -- turned out to hear students' thoughts on the president's visit.

H. James Towey, president of Saint Vincent College, speaks at a forum on the campus debating the decision to invite President Bush to speak at the May 11 commencement. Click photo for larger image.

Joshua Meny, a sophomore, said, "it is important to have a speaker who carries our values. Whose achievements and legacy should be inspiring. Bush has not achieved this with his partisan and corrupt administration. He has failed to unite our country and simply does not fit as a commencement speaker."

Senior class Vice-president Anthony Fiumara said students must keep in mind "this is not an election year and this is not a political event. The president is coming here to give us his advice, not to discuss his decisions, his politics and his policies."

Sean Thornton, a senior, asked students to "appreciate the national attention and prestige the presence of the president brings to our college. It is an honor and a privilege."

"I am for President Bush coming because I am against his policies," said junior Shane Seremet. "I agree with the other speakers that he does not share our values. I don't think he's been a good president. But when he comes here, we have a chance to engage him in dialogue. "

Last night's forum buzzed with the excitement of a small college taking the big stage, and Mr. Towey said he welcomed the discussion.

"This is a wonderful opportunity for students to refine skills that allow them to forcefully express their opinions, defend them, and engage in a debate," he said before the start of the forum. "I think that's what a liberal arts college should be doing. If you don't have this kind of spirited discussion here, where are they going to take place?"

Students opposed to Mr. Bush's visit conducted a protest Sunday that went peacefully, and last night's forum also was orderly and respectful.

Students listen to speeches made at the campus forum debating the decision to invite President Bush to speak at the school's commencement. Click photo for larger image.

"Having worked for President Bush, I had no illusion that his coming here would not arouse protesters," Mr. Towey said. "I've ridden in his limousine as people gave him the finger, as people yelled. [I knew] that there would be a part of the population that would be appalled by his selection.

"Part of what I hope to communicate [at the forum], is that the college's decision to invite the president of the United States is not an endorsement of his politics or his policies. We have a history of provocative, opinionated leaders speaking here, William F. Buckley, Congressman Murtha and Tip O'Neill."

Mr. Towey said Mr. Bush's acceptance of the invitation to speak puts Saint Vincent College among a select group of institutions in the country.

In addition to Saint Vincent, Mr. Bush will speak this year at commencement ceremonies at the Kendall Campus of Miami Dade College in Miami, and the U.S. Coast Guard Academy in New London, Conn. The president has given commencement addresses at 16 institutions of higher learning, including seven military academies. This will be his first address in Pennsylvania and his second at a Catholic college.

"This is not a State of the Union (address) given to the nation, but a commencement address to the graduating Class of 2007. It is a privilege most graduating classes will never have," said senior Jason Taft.

Senior Melissa Altmen said she appreciated the privilege of having the resident speak, "but this has become more about the president than it is the graduating seniors."

As far as protests on the day of the event are concerned, Mr. Towey said the college will be prepared and will try to accommodate them within reason.

"I'm not at all worried about Commencement Day," he said. "There are faculty members that don't want him to come. There are Benedictine monks that don't want him to come. But on Commencement Day, when the president of the United States arrives on campus, he will be received with Benedictine hospitality.

"Once this passes, people will recognize, this was the sitting president of the United States that just came to our campus. With all the colleges that he could go to, I feel very proud of it."