Kean To Replace Rice As Rutgers 2014 Commencement Speaker

Rutgers has announced that former New Jersey Governor Thomas H. Kean will deliver the commencement address to the Rutgers University Class of 2014.

Kean, who will deliver the address on Sunday, May 18, former Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice, who announced on May 3 that she would not participate in the commencement.

Rutgers President Robert Barchi said Saturday that the university "stands fully behind the invitation to Dr. Rice to be our commencement speaker and receive an honorary degree."

Many in the Rutgers community were upset that Rice was slated to speak at the 2014 commencement because of her defense of the Iraq war.

Earlier this year, Barchi acknowledged that the university has "even heard from high school students who have written to say that they would withdraw their Rutgers applications if we rescind-or fail to rescind-our invitation to her." 

"Now is the time to focus on our commencement, a day to celebrate the accomplishments and promising futures of our graduates," he said Saturday. "We look forward to joining them and their families on May 18, 2014."

Barchi said Kean's career as a public servant, educator, and statesman "speaks to the civility, integrity, and vision that we hope will guide our graduates as they pursue their careers or further their studies."

Kean also served as co-chairman of the commission that investigated the Sept. 11, 2001 attacks.

"He is a national role model as a statesman who built bridges across partisan, racial, ethnic, and ideological divides for the sole purpose of improving the quality of life for the people he served," Barchi said. "We are honored that he has accepted our invitation to address our graduates."

Kean served as Governor of New Jersey from 1982 until 1990. From 1990 until 2005, ean served as the president of Drew University in Madison.

Kean, who received an honorary doctor of laws degree from Rutgers in 1982, will not accept a speaking fee for his remarks.

"I look forward to a day of joy and celebration for our graduating students and their families, and I am glad that Gov. Kean will be able to share his wisdom with our Class of 2014," Barchi said.