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| U.S. Senator Ted
Kennedy is currently the senior Democrat on the Health, Education, Labor and
Pensions Committee in the Senate. He will speak at the 176th Wesleyan
commencement. |
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| Posted 02.01.08 |
Senator Kennedy to Address Class of 2008
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U.S. Senator Edward M. "Ted" Kennedy will
deliver the main address at Wesleyan's 176th commencement in May.
Senator Kennedy, a Democrat, is the senior senator from Massachusetts and
the second longest-serving current member of the U.S. Senate.
“Senator Kennedy has long been a thoughtful and energetic supporter of
higher education in the United States,” says Wesleyan's President Michael
Roth. “In this time of great change at our universities, it is particularly
important to hear his perspective.”
Throughout his career, Kennedy has been an advocate for universal health
care, immigration reform, raising the minimum wage, defending the rights of
workers and their families, strengthening civil rights, assisting
individuals with disabilities, fighting for cleaner water and cleaner air,
and protecting and strengthening Social Security and Medicare.
"Senator Kennedy's career of service to our highest national ideals models
the qualities of leadership and civic engagement that liberal arts colleges
and universities seek to develop in our students," Roth says. "We are proud
to host so powerful an advocate for education and civil rights, and
particularly to have him address our graduating seniors, their families, and
the larger Wesleyan community."
Kennedy is currently the senior Democrat on the Health, Education, Labor and
Pensions Committee in the Senate. He also serves on the Judiciary Committee,
where he is the senior Democrat on the Immigration Subcommittee, and on the
Armed Services Committee, where he is the senior Democrat on the Seapower
Subcommittee. He is a member of the Congressional Joint Economic Committee
and the Congressional Friends of Ireland, and a trustee of the John F.
Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts in Washington, D.C.
Kennedy's ties to Wesleyan include his son, Edward Jr. '83, who will be
celebrating his 25th reunion this year, and
step-daughter Caroline Raclin '08, who will be receiving her bachelor of
arts degree at the ceremonies. Kennedy himself received an honorary
doctorate from Wesleyan in 1984.
Kennedy is a graduate of Harvard University and the University of Virginia
Law School. He lives in Hyannis Port, Massachusetts, with his wife Victoria
Reggie Kennedy. Together, they have five children – Kara, Edward Jr., and
Patrick Kennedy, and Curran and Caroline Raclin. They also have four
grandchildren.
Wesleyan's 176th Commencement Ceremony will be held on Sunday, May 25.
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By David Pesci, director of media relations |
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