Oh, what a week it was!

Summer term has officially begun, and I’ve recovered from the many wonderful events of commencement on May 8 and our ReThink News Summit on May 11.

Desmond Tutu gave a moving speech, I am told, at convocation. I had to miss that as I attended a lunch for graduate commence speaker and former CBS news anchor Dan Rather with five of our terrific students and faculty member Geri Zeldes. Rather was very courtly and gracious. I think he must have posed for hundreds of photos with students, administrators, staff and faculty.

Most impressive was his decision at the graduate commencement to greet every student who crossed the podium. We were not supposed to be shaking hands, but as soon as he noticed MSU President Lou Anna K. Simon’s doing so, he followed suit. No other speaker in my memory has ever done that with the graduates. Good for Dan!

I had the privilege of driving him to the Westin Hotel that evening. When my hybrid motor pool Ford Fusion wouldn’t start, his helpful suggestions finally got us on the road.

I was introduced to Bishop Tutu by J-School faculty member Sue Carter (a soon to be ordained Episcopalian minister) as I was entering Breslin. He greeted me warmly, then asked, “Who is that?” Evidently, the legendary Johnny Spirit with his green and white body paint had walked by outside. Sue explained to him about our CAS alum!

Undergraduate commencement rocked with the J-School students outshining the other four units with their spirited cheering. Their enthusiasm and leadership was catching. They started two waves that raced across the bleachers and even involved half the platform party including Dean Brad Greenberg and Trustee Faylene Owen. The slo-mo wave was my personal favorite. Go Green!

Saturday night we had the CAS Alumni dinner. It was another great event honoring the College.

Then Monday was ReThink News our summit focusing on reinventing journalism. To learn more about that check the amazing web site designed by faculty member Darcy Greene and the extremely talented J-major Aaron Olson. Also listen to the entire afternoon session under the Online Media tab.

After that exciting week so big it took eight days we had time to catch up and gear up for the Summer term.

Commencement on Friday and News Summit on Monday!!!

Looking forward to commencement tomorrow. Dan Rather, Desmond Tutu, and it's not suppose to rain.

Also looking forward to the News Summit "ReThink News: In Search of a New Journalism" on Monday, May 11. Check it out at http://msujrn.org. The public session begins at 1:30 p.m., EDT in Studio E in the Communication Arts and Sciences Building. Admission is free, but if you want to guarantee a seat, please email Linda Hartwig at hartwigl@msu.edu. She has full audience info. The event will also be live web cast. The link will be on the web site or you can access it at http://spartantv.cas.msu.edu.

Congratulations to Lou D'Aria and his environmental film students for their latest documentary, Night Shift. Watch it soon on a public broadcast station in your area.

Also congratulations to Focal Point students, their adviser, the J-School's Bob Gould and Troy Hale (another J-School hire!) and his students (both JRN and TISM) for their Emmy nominations.