President Obama is not the only one having problems giving a commencement speech. A group at American University is protesting the selection of Congressman Barney Frank for an honorary degree and as the commencement speaker for the American University School of Public Affairs.

A letter written to the School of Public Affairs calls Barney Frank’s record “as a key player in our current economic crisis is almost as offensive as his endless refusal to accept responsibility for it.”  Sarah DeStefano, the founder of the Facebook group “AU Students & Alumni Against Barney Frank @ SPA Commencement ‘09”, told AU’s student newspaper, “The Eagle”, she is “sickened that the university would want to undermine the worth of my education by honoring a man with such a dishonorable record” stating that “Frank stood by and did nothing as our economy tumbled further into dismay.

On the record, he insisted that desires for further oversight of Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac were ‘overblown’ and that ‘Wall Street would get over it’ if the banks collapsed.” DeStafano wonders how the Congressman “can honestly look students in the eye who are struggling to find a job.” (more…)

When I think back to my college search process, I can remember combing through books and magazines that my parents shoved in my face that ranked every aspect of a college from the biggest party school to the average parental income of students. Although I always had my mind set on venturing out of the Midwest and to school in upstate New York, I still enjoyed reading through the miniscule details of schools I had applied to.

Most high school juniors or seniors take a glance at these ratings materials, at least once, in the decision making process. College is a huge, life-changing decision and with tuition constantly increasing, it is so important for everyone involved to make the right choice. For that reason, the information should be completely accurate and credible. Well, it turns out that one ratings system in particular, the U.S. News and World Report, may be a glorified “beauty contest.”

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