Controversy led three speakers to drop out of commencement talks this year . The controversy has also prompted a number of other colleges and universities across the country to cancel their commencement ceremonies altogether. Just over the past few months , several prominent invited speakers , including Condoleezza Rice , Christine Lagarde , and Robert Birgeneau have withdrawn following a campus backlash to news they would be coming to Rutgers , Smith , and Haverford , respectively . Commencement speeches can be an opportunity to introduce bold ideas , he says . President Lyndon Johnson made a stirring case in 1964 for his vision of a `` Great Society ''
Controversy led three speakers to drop out of commencement talks this year . The controversy has also prompted a number of other colleges and universities across the country to cancel their commencement ceremonies altogether. Commencement speeches can be an opportunity to introduce bold ideas , he says . President Lyndon Johnson made a stirring case in 1964 for his vision of a `` Great Society ''