It’s a bird – it’s a plane – it’s Ohio State’s chosen commencement speaker.
This year Christopher Reeve will speak at the spring commencement ceremony on June 13 in Ohio Stadium.
Reeve was among many speaker choices, including Oprah Winfrey, Tom Hanks, Steven Spielberg, Jimmy Carter and Tom Brokaw.
A commencement speaker committee made up of representatives from Undergraduate Student Government, the Council of Graduate Students, the Inter-professional Council and the OSU faculty, compiled a list of 10 recommendations for speakers.
“It’s a pretty random process,” said USG President Eddie Pauline.
Reeve is best known for his portrayal of the “Man of Steel” in the 1978 classic “Superman: The Movie.” Along with the “Superman” sequels, Reeve also appeared in the films “Somewhere in Time,” and “The Muppets Go Hollywood,” to name a few.
In 1995, Reeve was thrown from his horse in an equestrian competition, breaking his neck. The injury left him paralyzed from the neck down. Now Reeve is devoted to organizations working to find cures for spinal injuries.
“He’s a great speaker. People should be impressed,” Pauline said. “The obstacles he’s overcome are tremendous.”
Commencement speakers do not receive payment for speaking, which can make finding people difficult.
“The only form of payment they receive is an honorary degree,” Pauline said.
About 5,000 students will march at graduation, said Carol Rinehart, administrative secretary for the Office of Special Events. The exact number will be determined later this week.
“There is no way of gauging it, but it’s normally around 30,000,” Rinehart said of the total anticipated graduation audience.
The speaker will be a determining factor for seniors contemplating skipping the ceremony.
“I was dreading another businessman,” said Justin Feingold, a senior in English. “For a non-political, non-business person it should be an interesting ceremony. It will be a good opportunity to see somebody with power outside the business world.”
