TABLE OF CONTENTS FRONT PAGE NEXT ARTICLE PREVIOUS ARTICLE
Bill Bradley, who recently announced his candidacy for president in 2000, will deliver the University's spring commencement address.
Chancellor Michael Hooker will preside at the ceremony, to be held May 16 at 9 a.m. in Kenan Stadium.
"We look forward to having such an accomplished American speak at our spring commencement," Hooker said. "Mr. Bradley embodies many of the same principles that characterize Carolina. As an athlete, a scholar and a deeply engaged citizen, he exemplifies the spirit of the Carolina experience. I'm sure he will enlighten and entertain the Class of 1999."
Bradley now is on the campaign trail, seeking the Democratic presidential nomination in 2000.
Serving New Jersey in the U.S. Senate for 18 years, Bradley advocated economic growth, family stability, protecting the environment, promoting community involvement in government and society, and strengthening America's role abroad. Bradley was known in the Senate for helping to pass such legislation as Megan's Law, a law that requires sex offenders to report where they live.
After leaving the Senate in 1997, Bradley chaired the National Civic League, an advocacy group which promotes collective decision-making in local community building, and taught as a visiting professor at the University of Maryland, and Stanford and Notre Dame universities.
Bradley played professional basketball for the New York Knicks from 1967 to 1977. As the starting forward, he helped the Knicks win National Basketball Association championships in 1970 and 1973.
Bradley graduated from Princeton University in 1965 with an honors degree in American history.
A scholar-athlete, Bradley was a three-time basketball All-American at Princeton and won the Sullivan Award as the country's top amateur athlete. Bradley captained the gold-medal- winning U.S. men's basketball team at the 1964 Tokyo Olympics.
After Princeton, Bradley earned a Rhodes scholarship to Oxford University, where he received a graduate degree after studying politics, philosophy and economics.
A native of Crystal City, Mo., Bradley served in the Air Force Reserve from 1967 to 1978.
Bradley has written four books: Life on the Run about his Knick years; The Fair Tax, which was the basis of the Tax Reform Act of 1986; Time Present, Time Past, a memoir about life as a senator; and Values of the Game, an assortment of essays on basketball and life.
A selection committee of students and faculty recommended Bradley as this year's commencement speaker, and their recommendation was approved by Hooker.
Jeremy Cohen, a senior from Knoxville, Tenn., and senior class president, was on the committee which chose Bradley as speaker.
"I'm excited about having this well-respected leader come to Carolina," Cohen said. "He's a good fit with Carolina. People at Carolina appreciate a basketball star, but even more a bright, forward-thinking leader."
To UNC-CH Home Page