Kim and ASUH president, Pi'ilani Smith, want to see students added to the list of speakers. Nothing has been finalized, but the idea is to have two student speakers, one for the undergraduates and one for the graduates. Inazu said that they are talking about the various ways of selecting the speakers. If this idea goes through, Inazu said it will be the first time in recent history, or at least as far as she can remember, that a student speaks at graduation. Kim said that when she graduated, there were many students, Hawaiian and non-Hawaiian, who decided that they wanted to chant.
Graduation is strictly for the students.
Inazu said she thinks it is a great idea to have student speakers. Inazu said that President Mortimer and the BOR chair will be asked to give a speech of a reasonable length, about three to five minutes. Inazu said that it is important for the BOR to take part in the ceremony because it is they who are authorized to give the degrees to the students. Smith said the purpose of having student speakers is to place the center of focus of the commencement on the students and their families. She said that without student representation, the commencement is just another way to place the focus on the administration's platform and agenda.