U.S. Attorney General Eric Holder is returning to Morningside Heights for graduation—only a year after he spoke to Columbia College seniors about his undergraduate days.
Holder, CC ’73, Law ’76, and a Columbia University trustee currently serving in the Obama administration, will be speaking at the Columbia Law School’s 2010 graduation on May 14, a Law School spokesperson confirmed Thursday. He was Columbia College’s Class Day speaker in 2009, where he discussed a range of Columbia memories, from first meeting his roommate in Carman to participating in a sit-in that led to the creation of the Malcolm X Lounge.
Holder, the first African American to head the Department of Justice, was previously a deputy attorney general for the Clinton administration, U.S. attorney for the District of Columbia, a federal judge on the court bench in Washington, and a Justice Department prosecutor. After being sworn in as attorney general in February 2009, he became the second consecutive Columbia graduate to serve in that cabinet post, succeeding Michael Mukasey, CC ’63. He also served as a Columbia University trustee from March 2007 until his confirmation. Earlier this year, he was awarded the Columbia Law School Medal for Excellence, presented annually to an alumnus or faculty member.
The Law School has not released an official announcement about the graduation speaker, but Holder is listed on the school’s online calendar, and Steven Gosset, press officer for the Law School, confirmed Thursday that Holder has accepted the invitation.
Gosset added of the choice, “He’s always been very generous with his time and very supportive of the Law School. ... He is someone who is emblematic of what we hope our students can aspire to be.”
Sam Yospe, Law ‘10, said he was pleased with the choice. “I think it’ll be really great to hear from him, especially as a really successful alumni.”
Jin Wang, a student in a one-year Master of Laws program, said she is hoping that Holder will say something substantial about the profession of law itself.
“Other than being a lawyer ... what else can we think?” she said, stressing that his speaking at graduation will only be worthwhile “if his speech is going to make a difference to young professionals here.”
Celia Muller, Law ’11, said she is pleased that he is returning to his alma mater. “I’m really happy that he’s keeping Columbia in mind,” she said.
Though Lisa Knox, Law ’11, said she was not pleased with Holder’s work in the Obama administration thus far, she still approved of the University’s decision to invite him: “I don’t necessarily agree with his politics, but I think it’s great that he’s coming back to talk," she said.
And despite the fact that Holder spoke at Columbia College’s commencement last spring, students say they are still pleased to hear him speak at their own ceremony.
Yospe said, “Now that he’s had over a full year as attorney general, he’ll have different things to say.”
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