President George W. Bush will deliver the commencement address May 21 to 900 graduating seniors at Calvin College, a leader in conservative Christian studies in western Michigan.
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Bush will encounter a college officials describe as "unapologetically Christian." Students must take religion courses, including biblical liturgy and theology and developing a Christian mind. Spiritual activity coordinators live in each dorm. There is no alcohol allowed on campus.
Bush, a graduate of Yale and a born-again Christian, owes his re-election last year partially to Christian conservatives. College officials expect he'll have no trouble coming up with an inspiring message.
"Certainly he's aware of Calvin's Christian foundation," said de Haan, adding that he expects spiritual issues to be a part of the president's speech. "It would be a message that they've heard from other speakers as well. This is an amazing opportunity for the Class of 2005."
http://www.freep.com/news/mich/calvin22e_20050422.htmFroomkin writes...snip>
The official story, out of Calvin, is that it's all thanks to the persistence of an alumnus, U.S. Rep. Vernon Ehlers, along with college booster, Republican donor and former ambassador Peter Secchia.
But the Grand Rapids Press says it happened this way: "About a month ago, Karl Rove pulled aside a West Michigan congressman with an idea.
" 'Would Calvin College be interested in having the president as a speaker?' the Bush adviser asked U.S. Rep. Vern Ehlers, R-Grand Rapids.
"The result: The president will speak May 21 at the college's 85th commencement ceremony. It is a major coup for the Christian Reformed-based liberal arts school."
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/politics/administration/whbriefing/