Commencement speech to conclude 18-year presidency

04/28/09 - University of Rhode Island seniors expecting a strange face at the podium may be surprised to learn that President Robert L. Carothers is slated to deliver this year's commencement address.Carothers will be ending his 18-year tenure as president of the university in June.

Michelle Curreri, assistant to the president and chair of the commencement committee, said Carothers chose to be the speaker.

"He wanted to do it, it's part of his tribute." Curreri said. "It's one of his last messages to students in a positive way; a sendoff to students."

Carothers' reason for the choice was two-fold, Curreri said.

"Of course there are fees involved for commencement speakers, so the president thought that would be a perfect opportunity for him to ... provide the students with a sendoff message and at the same time save the university money," she said.

The expense projection from the Office of Budget and Financial Planning for this year's ceremony is $303,000.

This price tag is the approximate norm for the university, said Director of Budget and Financial Planning Linda Barrett.

"It was probably a little bit less last year only because some expenses will go up ... it pretty much stays in this ballpark," Barrett said.

Significant expenses include chair, tent and equipment rental, pay for university employees, pay for outside help including interpreters and technicians and printing of programs, invitations and brochures.

The university charges students a one-time "document fee" to cover the cost of commencement ceremonies. This year's fee was $60, a $15 increase from last year, Barrett said.

The university is saving an unspecified amount of money thanks to Carothers' pro-bono speech.

Fees for outside speakers vary significantly.

"It could be $5,000 ... it could be $1,500, it really depends on the speaker, as you could imagine," Barrett said.

To further confuse the issue, that cost would often be split between the university and the URI Foundation, she said.

Whatever amount of money Carothers may have saved the university was rolled into the event budget.

That Carothers would deliver the address has been the plan from the beginning of the process. No other speakers were considered, Curreri said.

"[Carothers] wanted to step up to the plate this year and give this last sendoff to the students," she said. "It's just another way to honor him."

Graduating senior Dave Shawver said he hadn't given the matter much thought, but was surprised that the university hadn't brought in an outside celebrity.

"I wouldn't have expected [Carothers] to be the one to do it, but if he does a good job that's fine," Shawver said.

Fellow soon-to-be-graduate Lanecia Edmonds was more up beat.

"I think it's awesome, and I'm pretty sure it would mean a lot to him, it being his last year and all," Edmonds said.

Senior Kelley Lynch echoed Edmonds' sentiment.

"I think it's great, he's done a lot for the university ... I think he's been an asset to URI for his entire career here with the university as president," Lynch said.