Coming To The Big East In 2010 - Men’s Lacrosse

The Big East conference is forming a new men’s lacrosse league that will include national champion Syracuse.

The league will start competition in the spring of 2010 and will include Syracuse, Providence, Rutgers, St. John’s, Villanova, Notre Dame and Georgetown.

The schools will play each other once.

The conference’s 16 athletic directors unanimously approved the new league during recent meetings. The conference will apply for an automatic bid to the NCAA tournament.

Syracuse, which won its 10th NCAA title last month, had played as an independent, while the other schools were scattered in other leagues. [AP]

Former President Clinton Backs Out Of UCLA’s Commencement Ceremony

Former President Bill Clinton won’t be addressing graduates at the UCLA College of Letters and Science commencement ceremony on Friday, June 13, as previously scheduled.

UCLA Chancellor Gene Block will deliver keynote remarks to approximately 4,000 graduating seniors and their guests at the event, which is scheduled for 5 p.m. at Pauley Pavilion.

The American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees (AFSCME) asked Clinton and others not to speak at UCLA while its union members are working without a contract and negotiating with the University of California system.

“It’s unfortunate that union activities are affecting a UCLA event intended to celebrate student achievement,” said Judith L. Smith, dean and vice provost of undergraduate education at the UCLA College of Letters and Science. “While we’re disappointed for students and their family members looking forward to hearing a former president speak, we anticipate a joyful mood as we send off graduating seniors with a ceremony filled with colorful traditions.” [UCLA.NewsRoom]

Blasphemy: Tebow Isn’t UF’s Most Dominant Athlete

What would you say if I told you Tim Tebow is only the second most dominant athlete at the University of Florida?

Would you cry blasphemy?

Probably, but that’s only because you likely haven’t seen the best UF has to offer.

The right arm of softball ace Stacey Nelson has led the Gators to the best record in school history (65-3) and is largely responsible for making UF the favorite to win the national title.

She does not have the same media attention or buzz as the golden boy Mr. Tebow, but when it comes to her sport she is by far the best in the business. [Independent Florida Alligator]

The Music Industry Threatening to Sue Over Music File Sharing at the University of Utah.

It may be too late to apologize at the U of U. The Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA) has notified the U that 12 people there illegally shared music files using the U’s Internet service.

The industry has asked university officials to forward notices of copyright infringement to those 12 students or employees. The RIAA says it will sue if they don’t respond. [KSL]

Funniest College Commencement Speeches

College Finder searched the web to find the funniest college graduation speeches. From Conan to Jon Stewart, the list is packed with critically successful comedians, delivering hilarious speeches. [College Finder]

Jerry Springer Speaks to Applause at Law Graduation

Most of the law graduates inside the Arie Crown Theater Friday probably didn’t expect advice on ethics from Jerry Springer.

“Let’s be honest–I’ve been virtually everything you can’t respect: a lawyer, a mayor, a news anchor and a talk show host,” joked Springer, who spoke at the School of Law’s convocation ceremony. “Pray for me; if I get to heaven, we’re all going.”

In a wide-ranging speech, Springer, Law ‘68, drew upon his experience as a former mayor of Cincinnati, an award-winning news anchor and now the host of one of television’s raunchiest shows.

Springer was invited by a student committee formed to choose a graduation speaker, but his invitation drew criticism from many students, as well as e-mails on school listservs both for and against the choice.

Springer received applause as well as a standing ovation from about half the students. Van Zandt and University President Henry Bienen stood to greet Springer afterward.

“It’s the only time during the ceremony that I was teary-eyed,” said graduate Molly Sorg. [Daily Northwestern]

NC Central Gives Duke Lacrosse Stripper a Degree

When I started reading Kristin Butler’s most recent article Duke’s daily paper, The Chronicle, I was initially annoyed, since she starts out the article by saying, “It seems anyone can get a college degree these days-especially if they go to North Carolina Central University.”

Ms. Butler is teed off because NCCU just awarded a degree in “police psychology” to Crystal Mangum, who you most likely know as the “Duke Lacrosse Case Stripper”. [Brahsome]

Some schools get great commencement speakers, others get Star Jones. With Chronicle.com’s release of the full list of 2008 commencement speakers, we thought we’d see which school’s bookings are duds and which are Chuck Norris-good.

Vote below in COED’s 2008 Commencement Speaker Showdown! Read More »

Some of the most important people in history have graduated from Harvard, so with one phone call, these Ivy-Leaguers can book who ever they want–leaving the rest of us with speakers like Big Bird (Villanova’s 2004 speaker) to carry out the graduation commencement. Let’s see what the rest of us have been missing.

Check out Harvard’s long list of cool commencement speakers after the jump. Read More »