Colbert to give commencement speech In Illinois

[CatWoman]

Little Knox College rates big names as commencement speakers

By Lucinda Hahn
Tribune staff reporter
Published May 22, 2006


The president of Knox College, Roger Taylor, wouldn't want you to think he's gloating.

But he is.

That's because Knox is proving to be The Little College That Could -- could land the nation's coolest commencement speakers, that is.

This year, Stephen Colbert, star of Comedy Central's "The Colbert Report," will address the Class of 2006 on June 3.

Which may or may not top last spring's coup, when Sen. Barack Obama flew in from the capital to speak to Knox's Class of 2005.

Obama's appearance prompted a flurry of calls and inquiries to Galesburg from other college administrators -- including one from the dean of students at Harvard Law, Obama's alma mater -- demanding to know how a quiet school of 1,245 students, set amid Illinois' western cornfields, had nabbed the It guy of the Democratic Party.

More at link:

http://www.chicagotribune.com/entertainment/chi-0605220233may22,1,6345368.story?coll=chi-news-hed&ctrack=1&cset=true

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[AllieB]

1. Those lucky kids!

:-)

[CatWoman]

3. I hope he gives them a large dose of "truthiness"

:rofl:

[Coexist]

2. how incredibly cool is that?!

How did they get him?

[Rose Siding]

6. WAY incredibly cool

:D

Local media would be nuts not to cover this one.

[Catchawave]

4. I'm looking forward to the transcript of that speech!

...and the video. Lucky kids!!!

[jenmito]

5. I hope we get to see it!...

That should be hilarious! I bet this will be something those kids never forget, and laugh about for years recalling what he said!

[GreatCaesarsGhost]

8. c-span usually replays commencement speeches

i would think they wouldn't pass this one up.

[CatWoman]

10. they are making a killing from Steve's WHC Dinner event

it's still number 1 on the list of most downloaded.

[jenmito]

13. Thanks for the info.! n/t

[bullwinkle428]

7. Wow, I'm not far from Galesburg at all - I wonder if I could somehow

manage to get into the audience for the commencement?

edit: Just checked...FREE AND OPEN TO THE PUBLIC (weather permitting, as it's planned for outdoors)!

[Bluzmann57]

9. Way back when, Galesburg, IL, where Knox is located

hosted the Lincoln-Douglas debates. Maybe that's partly how "Little Knox College" lands so many big name commencent speakers. In fact, they were held at Knox College. A few other big name speakers at the college;
David Brinkley
John Kenneth Galbraith
David Halbertstam
Studs Terkel
Jesse Jackson
George Will (yeah yeah, I know)
Ted Koppel
This is by no means a complete list, but just goes to show you the power of history. The students are the one's who came up with the idea of inviting Colbert. The administration just extended the invitation. One more thing, rumor is that next year they are trying to land a HUGE speaker. A former President. For more info go to www.qctimes.net
One more thing that helps, Knox has a famous alum or two. John Podesta, for one. Check out the above link and they explain it well. The ceremony is June 3, at 10:00 AM and is open to the public.If it rains, well... that's just the way things are here in the Midwest.

[Burma Jones]

11. Hooray for MY Alma Mater

Knox is a great place to go to school......

[dhill926]

12. yep, my alma mater as well.

now I feel guilty for not sending them money.....