Roanoke Times
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: FRIDAY, April 12, 1991 TAG: 9104120565
SECTION: VIRGINIA PAGE: B4 EDITION: STATE
SOURCE: Associated Press
DATELINE: LENGTH: Medium
Hampton's commencement May 12 will draw President Bush, whose decision to address the graduating class was announced in a visit to the school last month by Dr. Louis Sullivan, U.S. secretary of health and human services.
Two other state schools will have would-be presidents as speakers.
Gov. Douglas Wilder will speak at George Mason University on May 18. On the same day, Jesse Jackson, who ran for president twice in the 1980s, will address Norfolk State University graduates.
Jackson usually draws a big check for speaking engagements but will talk for no fee at Norfolk State, where his mother-in-law will receive a master's degree in social work. Bush and Wilder also will be no-fee speakers.
But that's not the case with syndicated columnist James Kilpatrick, who will speak at Old Dominion's May 11 graduation for $15,000. Because Kilpatrick's speech is planned for about 20 minutes, that's $750 a minute.
ODU President James Koch said Kilpatrick's fee will come out of $20,000 saved by eliminating the smaller August commencement. He said students last year asked for a memorable graduation speaker.
At Mary Washington College, the May 11 commencement speech will be delivered by retired television commentator Eric Sevareid, who will get $8,500.
"That's about the upper limit of what we can put into it," said Ron Singleton, a spokesman for the school.
Graduates at the University of Virginia and Virginia Tech will hear from Middle East experts.
At UVa, W. Nathaniel Howell, the former U.S. ambassador to Kuwait, will speak at the May 19 exercises. Howell, a native of Portsmouth who lives in Charlottesville, will be paid $500, the school's limit for such purposes.
At Virginia Tech, Saud Nasir Al-Sabah, Kuwait's ambassador to the United States, will speak May 4 for no fee.
James Madison University has lined up Virginia Supreme Court Justice Elizabeth Lacy for a no-fee commencement speech May 4.
by CNB