Speakers Chosen For 1997 Orations

Senior Lecturer in English Richard C. Marius announced the senior, graduate and Latin commencement speakers yesterday.

Taziona G. Chaponda '97 will deliver the senior speech, Brian P. Dunkle '97 will deliver the Latin speech and Jamila E. Jefferson '94 will deliver the graduate speech.

Thirty-nine seniors presented their speeches to a selection committee two weeks ago. The committee, chaired by Marius, selected 12 finalists, including two Latin speakers, four senior speakers and six graduate speakers.

The committee listened to the speeches of the 12 finalists for the second time Tuesday.

"In the 19 years I've been on the committee this was the longest debate we've ever had. The debate was longer than the speeches," Marius said. "We really could have thrown a dart and found somebody we liked," he added, nothing that a strong applicant pool led the committee to make strategic choices.

"We tried to achieve a balance in the speeches we selected," Marius said. "A good speech always combines a little wit with some personal reminiscence and a serious point."

The selection committee included Plummer Professor of Christian Morals Peter J. Gomes, University Marshal Richard M. Hunt, vocal coach and voice teacher Bonnie Raphael, Quincy House Master Michael Shinagel and Professor of Greek and Latin Richard F. Thomas.

Marius said Thomas's expertise was essential in the selection of a Latin speaker from among the two finalists. According to Marius, the decision rested more on lingual accuracy than presentation.

"The [other student] that presented was very enthusiastic, but [Dunkle's] Latin was definitely better," Marius said.

Dunkle, a member of the varsity track team, concentrated on making his speech "De Currendo," or "On Running," a humorous and traditional rendition of the Latin oration.

"Basically, the Latin speech is supposed to be humorous, to lift people's spirits," said Dunkle. "The Latin oration is traditionally pretty light."

Dunkle said the language barrier will help ease the tension when he presents his speech on commencement day.

"It helps that I can kind of hide behind the language and just get into the role of speaker," Dunkle said.

In addition to Dunkle's lighter Latin speech, Marius said the committee chose Jefferson's speech primarily because it put humorous twists on a serious theme.

"She combined some real wit with a very serious idea and the result was a very eloquent speech," Marius said.

Jefferson said her speech, "The Awaiting Deep," is intended to give some sense of her seven years at Harvard, both as a student at the College and the Law School.

"I'll talk about the fear and challenge of Harvard, the place I've grown up in," Jefferson said.

After submitting her speech to the committee "on a whim," Jefferson said she is thrilled to have the chance to present it on commencement day but that the composition was a largely personal work.

"I really just wanted to write something honest," Jefferson said. "I was writing for myself, to convince myself that I could make it outside of Harvard."

Other graduate speeches included a tribute to the Marshall Plan and a speech by two brothers delivered in tandem.

Senior speeches varied from personal narratives to a look at Dante's portrayal of Ulysses, but Marius said Chaponda's speech stood out for its emphasis on commitment after graduation.

Chaponda said his speech, "The Price of Greatness," is meant to motivate students to take action, even in little ways, to effect change after they graduate.

"The underlying theme [of the speech] is that Harvard has generated great leaders in the past, but that comes at a price," Chaponda said.

Chaponda, who is originally from Malawi, Africa, said his work with the Harvard Foundation and the African Student's Association helped him recognize the need for students to contribute to communities outside of Harvard after they graduate.

"Many people in our class are destined for power positions in major industries but what type of responsibility comes with that?"

While addressing a crowd of several thousand may seem daunting, Chaponda said he feels prepared.

"Of course one cannot help being overwhelmed by the crowd," he said. "But I really love public speaking, and I'm happiest when in front of a large audience."CrimsonDanielle J. KingSpeakers, from left: JAMILA E. JEFFERSON '94, BRIAN P. DUNKLE '97 and TAZIONA G. CHAPONDA '97.

After submitting her speech to the committee "on a whim," Jefferson said she is thrilled to have the chance to present it on commencement day but that the composition was a largely personal work.

"I really just wanted to write something honest," Jefferson said. "I was writing for myself, to convince myself that I could make it outside of Harvard."

Other graduate speeches included a tribute to the Marshall Plan and a speech by two brothers delivered in tandem.

Senior speeches varied from personal narratives to a look at Dante's portrayal of Ulysses, but Marius said Chaponda's speech stood out for its emphasis on commitment after graduation.

Chaponda said his speech, "The Price of Greatness," is meant to motivate students to take action, even in little ways, to effect change after they graduate.

"The underlying theme [of the speech] is that Harvard has generated great leaders in the past, but that comes at a price," Chaponda said.

Chaponda, who is originally from Malawi, Africa, said his work with the Harvard Foundation and the African Student's Association helped him recognize the need for students to contribute to communities outside of Harvard after they graduate.

"Many people in our class are destined for power positions in major industries but what type of responsibility comes with that?"

While addressing a crowd of several thousand may seem daunting, Chaponda said he feels prepared.

"Of course one cannot help being overwhelmed by the crowd," he said. "But I really love public speaking, and I'm happiest when in front of a large audience."CrimsonDanielle J. KingSpeakers, from left: JAMILA E. JEFFERSON '94, BRIAN P. DUNKLE '97 and TAZIONA G. CHAPONDA '97.