Trachtenberg Won't Deliver Commencement Address

WASHINGTON (AP) - George Washington University president Stephen Joel Trachtenberg has decided against delivering the keynote address at the university's May 20 commencement exercises.

Tractenberg says he's asked five outstanding degree recipients to offer a few brief "pearls of wisdom" to graduates.

Last week's announcement that Trachtenberg would deliver the keynote drew protests and petitions from students who urged the university to invite another speaker to the proceedings. Trachtenberg says he's trying to make peace and a dispute over a commencement speech seems trivial following events this week at Virginia Tech.

Trachtenberg has been president of George Washington University for 19 years and is credited with transforming it from a commuter school into an institution with global influence.

He is stepping down from the presidency in August but will hold an endowed chair in the School of Public Policy and Public Administration.

The school also will present honorary degrees to several people, including CNN news anchor Wolf Blitzer and former D.C. Council Chair Linda Cropp.

(Copyright 2007 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.)