Baccalaureate not for sale

Though Meg Whitman has made significant contributions of time and money to Princeton University, selecting her as Baccalaureate speaker a few days after she donated $30 million is inappropriate. What is not for sale at this school?

Now, I will give you the benefit of the doubt and assume that a few seniors did suggest Ms. Whitman, President and CEO of eBay, Inc, as a possible speaker, and that the idea was on the drawing board before her gift became cash in the vaults. Since I don't know Ms. Whitman, I will also concede that she is neither manipulative nor back-handed and could give an interesting and engaging speech. But I'm sure that there were other people you could have selected, and many would have been a better choice.

Seniors received an email earlier this year describing the nature of the ceremony in order to help them nominate speakers. It emphasized the historically religious nature of the event and the ability of the speaker to address human values: "While the ceremony at Princeton is no longer a Presbyterian service as it was initially, it has maintained its association with religious tradition. It continues to be held in the Chapel, and includes prayers from various religious denominations as well as readings from religious and philosophical traditions particularly associated with education . . . Until the early nineteen-seventies, the President gave the main address at Baccalaureate. Since then, speakers have been representatives of religious institutions and public figures chosen for their ability to speak on topics related to human values, broadly considered."

I do not understand how Ms. Whitman, as accomplished and interesting as she may be, fits into such a ceremony. According to Vice-President Thomas Wright, some seniors nominated Ms. Whitman "because of their own interest in eBay and e-commerce." How does this interest meld with a humanistic ceremony, into a speech on values and education, citizenship and commitments? One senior friend said, "I know the Bac speech is only quasi-religious, but to select the CEO of a dot-com is, in my opinion, excessively quasi."

By selecting Ms. Whitman as Baccalaureate speaker, Princeton presents a prominent business leader as the ethical model for Princeton students about to enter the 'real world.' And that is the last type of inspiration we need.

The other day at breakfast I heard one senior say to another, "One good thing about the economic downturn is the increase in volunteering and such. I mean, I'm applying to Project 55!" she laughed. "Lots of people are! Gosh, a year ago I would have never confessed to that! It's just so embarrassing!"

The truth is that this elite institution still struggles to convince its students to reach out of their own lives and contribute to society. Princeton's presidents have touted the slogan, "In the nation's service and in the service of all nations," but, President Tilghman, how much do you believe in that statement? And what message do you send to the seniors with your choice of speaker? A leader of a not-for-profit organization, a public servant or a faculty member would have been a better choice, and those alumni certainly exist.

I hear the message clearly. "Follow this model!" Princeton shouts. "This is success. Get a job, get an MBA, become a CEO, become a trustee, donate money, stamp your name on a building, achieve recognition, success, wealth, happiness!"

Please do not misunderstand me: I sincerely thank Ms. Whitman for her contributions to the University as a trustee, as a member of the steering committee of Princeton's Women in Leadership Initiative, and as a significant donator. And I would enjoy hearing her speak sometime, perhaps at another graduation event. But don't sell our Baccalaureate ceremony. Don't malign the humanistic nature of the event. And please don't encourage us with the model that equates success with wealth. Nathan Arrington is an art and archaeology major from Westport, Conn. He can be reached at arington@princeton.edu.