Next week the President of the United States will be on our campus. But more important, nearly 300 students will receive their diplomas and celebrate one of life’s great moments: Graduation Day.

It is an exciting time at Saint Vincent College. Our Baccalaureate Mass next Thursday will take place in a packed Basilica and will be a holy, privileged moment for graduates and their families, and the Senior Dinner that follows is the largest ever – by far. Graduates are having some sentimental gatherings while preparing for final exams. They will never forget these days or their graduation.

Meanwhile, the United States Secret Service has arrived and begun preparations and soon a team of White House “advance” folks will come and make final arrangements so that President Bush’s visit goes smoothly and our guests aren’t inconvenienced too much. Scores of undergraduates have volunteered to help at graduation and last week a group of volunteer students and employees - the “bucket brigade” led by sophomore Justin Davanzo - went to work to make sure our campus looks its best. Tickets to our Commencement Exercises will be delivered soon. I’ve seen newspaper advertisements trying to buy tickets and one from a student entrepreneur trying to sell tickets (sorry, but names of ticket recipients on our “issued list” must match up with the identification shown by ticket bearers in order to gain entrance). We are happy to report that those who contacted us requesting a fifth ticket for an immediate family member (49 of our seniors made this request) will be able to get one inside the Carey Center gymnasium. The satellite seating in the Performing Arts Center is completely filled, and we may have to open a second site on campus for satellite viewing. The good news is that when it comes time in the program for their loved one to walk across the stage and receive his or her diploma, attendees in the satellite rooms will be able to enter the main room and take photos of the conferral of the degree. Please keep an eye on our web site for the latest information on graduation, including what security precautions will be necessary. Urge your family members to do the same.

One of the events leading up to graduation that triggered even international coverage (the International Herald Tribune carried an Associated Press story Saturday) was the student forum that the Student Government Association organized April 17th. I am still receiving letters and email from people all over America who watched Saint Vincent students debate the President’s visit on C-SPAN. Here are some excerpts:

“By chance, the other evening, I tuned into the C-Span program which featured the debate at St. Vincent College…I could not have been more impressed with the quality of your students, their articulateness, their fairness, and their humanity. I was not only refreshed by their presentations but I also regained my faith in the college as a venue for open and honest dialogue. St. Vincent must be a very special place.” Sandy Springs, Georgia

“The arguments were cogent and compelling. You should be proud, as should the Benedictine community and the teaching staff, of the quality of presentation.” Petoskey, Michigan

“I have never been prouder of a group of individuals. They established faith in today’s leadership of tomorrow. Each handled the most sensitive situation with grace and tact. They respected the opinion, abilities, and the contributions of others, yet presented their opinions in a forthcoming, honest, strong decisive manner.” Tulsa, Oklahoma

“They were articulate, funny, and thoughtful. They represented Saint Vincent College and the Benedictine tradition very well.” Los Angeles, California

“I feel compelled to comment, because the eloquence and articulation of most of the students…I want to thank you for renewing my faith in education. I was thrilled to see so many smart, passionate, well-spoken young people standing up for their beliefs.” Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania

“As the parent of a student starting this coming fall I was immensely pleased and impressed…My son appears to be headed to the right place at just the right time.” Arnold, Pennsylvania

“Last night I had the privilege of listening to the debate at St. Vincent’s. I live in Iowa and even stayed awake til 3:15am to listen to the repeat as well as waking my husband to share with him fine examples of our next generation.”

(On that last one, I have to say that I’ll bet her husband would send a different email for being awakened at three in the morning to watch a college debate!)

There also were some critical comments, but not too many. Here are a few, the first two from alums:

“My biggest disappointment, however, relates to all the comments about Benedictine Values and the impression that George Bush stands for none of them. Were any of the presenters aware that 42 million babies have been aborted between 1973 and 2002…George Bush is on the side of the Benedictine values taught to the Class of 1950.” Columbus, Ohio

This one was directed at me: “I hope you will grow into your role on a Benedictine, Catholic, Christian campus – but you still have a bit of growing to go.”

“Your town hall is not cute. It is treasonous. Idiocy on CSPAN…Don’t ever do this again.” Address unknown

One letter I received from Ohio raised one Saint Vincent student’s speech recounting a 2007 spring break trip to Brazil and how while he was there, President Bush came to that country, and the poor in the area were rounded up in advance so as to stifle dissent or present a sunnier appearance for the city. Indeed, there have been news reports for decades where some governments have taken such steps in advance of a U.S. president’s visit. I think it is important to make clear that there is no record whatsoever that this “round up” was done with President Bush’s knowledge or approval. The fact that some locals imply or assert this doesn’t mean that it is true.

For the hundreds of students who attended the forum, you will recall that I offered to answer student questions. I received only one - from a graduating senior. She asked, “I was wondering if you could address the comments that Jack Miniotis made about other speakers, ones that do not have Catholic, Benedictine values, being welcomed on campus. There have been people who have been refused to be able to speak because they have a link on their website that sends the user to a controversial website. Their speech on campus was something that we support, though. I hope this is an opportunity for us to change this and be open to different ideas that will create conversations within our student body and create opportunities for us to have other forums on different topics.”

The issue she raised is one that some members of the faculty raised with me – how diverse a range of speakers will our Catholic, Benedictine liberal arts college permit? That’s a good question. I’m new to academia and am finishing my ninth month at Saint Vincent and I don’t know the answer. To me, the Archabbot’s decision to invite the President of the United States on our campus, with no electoral implications whatsoever, was an easy one to wholeheartedly support. It is true, President Bush is my friend and I have an abiding respect and affection for him. But even if I didn’t know him personally, I would support an invitation to the duly-elected president of our country, period. So at a minimum we have a “Sitting U.S. Presidents are welcome” policy at Saint Vincent. The fact is that virtually any individual you invite to campus – especially a political leader - may have some views that don’t fully square with Catholic, Benedictine values. Quite frankly, we would get criticized and picketed by some if we invited Pope Benedict XVI himself! That’s just the way it is.

In my opinion, there indeed are limits as to whom the College can invite to speak, and whom it can not and should not. So the issues are: where exactly is the line, and who draws it? I don’t have the answers right now. I may form a group of faculty, students, and alums to discuss these issues next year. There is no written policy here at Saint Vincent, and maybe it would help if we had a campus-wide discussion about who should be invited to speak, and who should not. We are a Catholic, Benedictine College, and we are proud of that 161 year-old heritage. So our take on these issues is different from secular or state institutions of higher education, and it should be. Beloved Pope John Paul II wrote an important document in 1990, Ex Corde Ecclesia (From the Heart of the Church), that sheds light on this subject, and I would look for guidance from both our Chancellor, Archabbot Douglas, who is the elected representative of our Benedictine community, and our local Bishop, Bishop Brandt. I think it also would help to do some research and see how other Catholic colleges and universities handle these questions to discern if their approaches have wisdom which could illuminate our path.

President Bush will be with us next week and then he will depart our College and soon thereafter I will be on a plane to Calcutta to accompany 12 Saint Vincent students as they work with the poor whom Mother Teresa loved so much. This means about 18 hours each way in the air, and that will give me plenty of time to think and pray about this. Stay tuned.