Speaker was bad fit for school

The Monday letter "University officials encouraged respect" from Louis Whitehead missed an important point. The Bethune-Cookman University administration was, frankly, disrespectful with its own graduates, taking what should have been a joyous occasion and turning it into a political opportunity to score points with the Trump administration.

I recently attended my nephew's graduation from West Virginia University. Bill Withers, a West Virginia native, singer/songwriter, and a 2015 inductee in the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame, was the featured speaker and was awarded an honorary doctorate.

His speech to the graduates of the College of Creative Arts was humorous, poignant, inspirational and uplifting. The graduates gave him an extended standing ovation. All other speeches, including by WVU President E. Gordon Gee, were equally positive, entertaining, and contributed to the uplifting spirit of the occasion. The graduates and their families were all smiles and happiness.

Juxtapose this positive and memorable ceremony with Bethune-Cookman's graduation ceremony. Betsy DeVos, who many believe is wholly unqualified to be the secretary of education, was invited to speak at the graduation ceremony by the school's administration. This invitation was not rescinded, even though most of the students, faculty and staff, and thousands of alumni, protested the choice.

She was invited even after stating historically black colleges and universities were "pioneers of school choice," clearly not understanding that such schools were created by necessity because most colleges and universities were segregated.

DeVos' invitation remained even after President Donald Trump signaled just days before that a key funding source for black colleges might be unconstitutional and could be pulled, funds the schools have relied on for decades.

Graduates at any level deserve ceremonies where they are the focus, where they are duly honored, and where they receive the full respect and consideration for their hard work.

This didn't happen there, and the graduates (along with a lot of their guests, I'd bet) let their displeasure be known.

Ralph Veppert Westerville