Visit of First Lady to Malibu Is Low-Profile Media Event

• Secret Service’s Advance Work Assures a Complication-Free Seaver Graduation Program

BY ROBIN NASBY

Nearly 10,000 guests attended the Seaver College commencement program on Saturday, April 28, to celebrate this year’s 650 graduates concluding their Pepperdine University baccalaureate experience. A Malibu Surfside News intern takes a spectator’s look at First Lady Laura Bush’s speech to the enthusiastic audience of graduates, families and friends. It was a very different atmosphere from ceremonies at some other campuses in the nation where protests—silent and not so silent—took place during speeches by White House officials who perhaps are not held in the same high regard as the President’s wife.

It was a quintessential Malibu day—the azure sky was cloud-free and the temperature was early summer warm. The Pepperdine University graduating class of ’07 anxiously awaited the beginning of their commencement ceremony, and a phalanx of Secret Service agents moved into their assigned positions throughout the Pepperdine campus.

Parents and guests were asked to remain seated throughout the ceremony and no one was permitted to vacate the premises until the culmination of the reception. Vibrant flowers, balloons and sun dresses were in sharp contrast with the black-suited, sunglass-donning and somber-faced personnel assigned to assure the safety of the wife of the President of the United States.

But the agents’ presence quickly faded into the background as the gathering warmly welcomed keynote speaker Laura Bush.

The ceremony ran extremely smoothly despite the heightened level of security and greater than usual crowd. Anticipating the large-scale turnout, university representatives precluded the crowd-related problems that can occur, by pre-renting numerous shuttles and requiring guests to enter with color-coded tickets (as opposed to the open seating of previous commencements).

Bush was welcomed by the university’s president, Andrew Benton, and its chancellor, Charles Runnels. Bush was accorded a Pepperdine Honorary Doctor of Laws degree, the highest honor conveyed on dignitaries. The First Lady beamed as the hood with the colors of the degree was placed over her black robe.

After accepting her degree, Bush stepped forward to address the enthusiastic assemblage. The First Lady quickly won over the crowd when she demonstrated that research had been done on local student lore, including the locations of favorite off-campus hangouts for extra-curricular activity, and specific courses, both famous and infamous, on the scenic campus.

After the levity, the First Lady became serious and acknowledged the important philanthropic work of the graduating class, praising its members for making a difference with their participation in global affairs. Bush said, “Our country is also blessed with compassionate citizens who freely give to other nations in need. Many of these compassionate citizens are right here at Pepperdine.”

A number of students were specifically recognized by Bush for their service to children and education, two issues of personal importance to the former librarian and teacher.

The First Lady concluded her speech by reflecting on the Pepperdine motto, “Freely ye received, freely give,” and she challenged the graduating seniors to live their lives accordingly.

“Class of 2007,” she said, You’ve received the blessings of your time at Pepperdine. Now it’s time to freely give. Use your talent and energy to make a better world for people throughout our country and across the globe. You’ll find happiness along the way.”