Popular actor and director Mel Gibson, will give the Commencement address this May, the President’s Office announced yesterday. Already, the Administration and student-body alike have expressed reacted ‘passionately.’
Inspired by Gibson’s latest directing endeavor, “The Passion of the Christ,” professors from the Film Department and the Religion Department teamed together to bring Gibson to the University.
“With Wesleyan’s constantly growing Film Department, we feel that the strides Mr. Gibson has been making in his career reflect the direction of greatness we only hope our programs here will achieve,” said Jeanine Basinger, Film Chair.
Like Wesleyan students, Gibson is not afraid to take risks and stir people up as evidenced by “The Passion.” The months preceding the movie’s release were filled with controversy and protests, favorite pastimes of the University community.
“’Passion’ has led to many provocative conversations on campus, in every sect of spirituality. I am very excited by the implications this has for May’s Commencement,” said Rabbi David Leipziger, the University Jewish Chaplain.
Students pro and anti-Gibson can’t suppress their anticipation of Gibson’s arrival, though they have their various reasons.
“After seven years here, now when I tell people I went to Wesleyan they can say ‘Oh, the small-liberal arts school in Middletown where Mel Gibson spoke,’ not ‘Huh? The girls’ school?’ This is the big break Wesleyan needs,” said Gibson fan Mike Jones ’04, who will finally be graduating this May, with Gibson as his witness.
“I think it’s an outrage to have an anti-Semite address our class, but I’m so thrilled for all the activism this allows for. We’ve already started to plan fliers, t-shirts, rallies, petitions and- off the record- chalking. It’s gonna be a blast! This is exactly how I want to remember my years at Wesleyan,” said Sara Martin ’04.
With his trophy case of awards from the Academy, Blockbuster, MTV, and People’s Choice (to name a few), Gibson’s greatness equals, and possibly even surpasses, the prize-winning hall of fame of Wesleyan Commencement speakers who’ve never won an Oscar, but maybe a Nobel.
The University has teamed up with Destinta Movie Theaters to fully capitalize on the event. After the ceremony and Gibson’s address, the new graduates will be able to view a special screening of “The Passion” at Destinta and enjoy a medium popcorn and soda for only three dollars if they present their cap and gown at the door.
“It’s obviously great publicity for our theater to have a Hollywood star at a screening of his movie, but I am a little worried about Wesleyan students protesting. I guess that’s the price of superstardom,” said Tony Andrews, Destinta Manager.
Churches from throughout the New England area have already begun organizing pilgrimages to come see Gibson at the University, feeling he is a modern day prophet. Father Louis Manzo, University Catholic Chaplain, also hopes to connect to Jesus through Gibson.
“It would be great to have another ceremonial rededication of the renovated Chapel with Gibson presiding with Jesus by his side,” he said.
It took a lot of effort for the University to get the busy Gibson to give the Commencement address, but President Doug Bennet pulled through to ensure a memorable ceremony for the graduating class and their families. However, President Bennet couldn’t do it all by himself and credits his loving wife Midge for her relentless support and encouragement- or in other words, nagging- until Gibson was secured.
“Mel’s a hunk,” she said. “I would never be able to forgive myself for letting this opportunity slip away.”
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