Honorary Degree

Mayor Street, already a lawyer, is due to be awarded an honorary law degree tomorrow to go with the one he studied for. Southern New England School of Law will award four such degrees at its commencement in Dartmouth, Mass. Robert Ward, the law school's dean and a Philadelphia native, nominated Street for the honor. He said he has always followed the goings-on in the city and has great respect for Street's history of civic leadership dating to the mayor's days as a community activist.

Anglican envoy Terry Waite received an honorary doctorate from the University of Kent on Saturday for his work on behalf of hostages held in the Middle East. Citing Waite for his work "for peace and freedom," the university made him an honorary doctor of civil law in a ceremony at Canterbury Cathedral, center of the Anglican denomination. Waite, 47, a church layman appointed special envoy by the archbishop of Canterbury, Robert Runcie, in 1980, has traveled frequently to the Middle East in attempts to secure the release of Americans and other hostages held by militant Muslims in Lebanon.

Under sunny skies, the University of Pennsylvania celebrated its 251st commencement yesterday. About 6,000 people received degrees at the Franklin Field ceremony. Among them was commencement speaker James A. Baker 3d, the former secretary of state and cochairman of the Iraq Study Group. He was given an honorary doctor of law degree. The singer and songwriter Aretha Franklin, U.S. Supreme Court Justice Ruth Bader Ginsberg, and Atlanta Mayor Shirley Franklin also were given honorary degrees.

The former president of the World Bank has withdrawn as one of Swarthmore College's three 2013 commencement speakers after critical comments sparked a debate in the campus media. Robert Zoellick, a 1975 alumnus, also declined to receive an honorary degree, according to an announcement by Swarthmore's president, Rebecca Chopp. "I don't want to disrupt what should be a special day for the graduates, their families, and friends. Nor do I have an interest in participating in an unnecessarily controversial event," Zoellick said, according to an e-mail Chopp sent to the college community on Friday.

Delivering a politically charged speech, Vice President Biden criticized China, touted American innovation, and told the University of Pennsylvania's Class of 2013 to "never forget the future is in your control. " "You're the most competent, caring generation this nation has produced," Biden told the 5,000 graduates Monday at Penn's 257th commencement at Franklin Field. "We are so well-positioned to lead the world into the 21st century, and we have to take advantage of that. " Biden hailed advances in science and technology, saying that people with prosthetic legs can climb mountains and that electric vehicles can operate efficiently.

Chief Justice William H. Rehnquist holds a question-and-answer session with law students at Temple University's Mitten Hall on Broad Street. The U.S. Supreme Court justice received an honorary degree yesterday, as the university's Law School celebrated its 100th anniversary with a special convocation. Seated next to Rehnquist is Temple law professor Laura Little, a former Rehnquist clerk.

In mid-February, Temple University president Peter J. Liacouras enjoyed five days in Rome with university friends and associates, at university expense, to confer an honorary degree on Italian President Bettino Craxi. Meanwhile, back on campus, part-time faculty members were teaching for the second month of the semester without having been paid for the first. Those who questioned the payroll department were told that all part-time faculty members would have to wait until Feb. 27 for the first month's check.

Hanna Holborn Gray, president of the University of Chicago, is scheduled to be presented with an honorary degree from Rosemont College during an academic convocation this afternoon. Gray, who will receive a doctor of humane letters, was chosen to be the recipient of the first honorary degree the college has awarded in 50 years because of her scholarly background, officials at the Catholic women's college said. Gray, a historian, has been president of the University of Chicago since 1978.

"Tis the season of pomp and circumstance. With emphasis on the pomp, for as more than 25,000 students receive diplomas at a score of Philadelphia-area college commencements this spring, each ceremony will feature the conferring of a trinket known as the honorary degree. With emphasis on the honorary. Often called a doctorate of humane letters, the honorary degree is the synthetic sheepskin of academia. It looks nice on your office wall - just don't call yourself "Doctor.

Drexel University President Richard D. Breslin yesterday condemned the Chinese government's crackdown on student protests and said he would ask the school's trustees to shelve a plan to award an honorary degree to a high- ranking Chinese official. Drexel was one of a number of area universities re-evaluating honorary degrees to Chinese officials in light of the brutal government crackdown on pro-democracy demonstrators in Beijing. At Temple University the administration weighed a request from a delegation of Chinese students to rescind an honorary degree that the school awarded in 1979 to Deng Xiaoping, former vice premier and now senior leader.

Delivering a politically charged speech, Vice President Biden criticized China, touted American innovation, and told the University of Pennsylvania's Class of 2013 to "never forget the future is in your control. " "You're the most competent, caring generation this nation has produced," Biden told the 5,000 graduates Monday at Penn's 257th commencement at Franklin Field. "We are so well-positioned to lead the world into the 21st century, and we have to take advantage of that. " Biden hailed advances in science and technology, saying that people with prosthetic legs can climb mountains and that electric vehicles can operate efficiently.

The former president of the World Bank has withdrawn as one of Swarthmore College's three 2013 commencement speakers after critical comments sparked a debate in the campus media. Robert Zoellick, a 1975 alumnus, also declined to receive an honorary degree, according to an announcement by Swarthmore's president, Rebecca Chopp. "I don't want to disrupt what should be a special day for the graduates, their families, and friends. Nor do I have an interest in participating in an unnecessarily controversial event," Zoellick said, according to an e-mail Chopp sent to the college community on Friday.

Lawrence A. Ciletti, 70, of Moorestown, president of Tru-Fit Frame & Door Corp., died of leukemia Friday, Feb. 24, at Thomas Jefferson University Hospital. Mr. Ciletti grew up in South Philadelphia and helped support his mother and sister after leaving school in the sixth grade. A longtime friend and colleague, Glen Bennett, recalled that Mr. Ciletti was thrown out of Daniel Boone School for delinquent students. "He was this little kid and he was always fighting," said Bennett, who has been with the company for more than 25 years and now helps run it. Mr. Ciletti unloaded boxcars and worked for his uncle's catering business.

In recent years, protests erupted when left-leaning Democrats who support abortion access were honored by Catholic universities and colleges at commencement ceremonies, since that position violates the church's teaching on the sanctity of human life from conception. Now, it's a prominent Republican's turn. House Speaker John Boehner is to receive an honorary degree and address graduates Saturday at the Catholic University of America - and at least 100 academics from church-related universities around the country are protesting the visit because they say the recent GOP budget Boehner guided through the House will harm the poor, elderly, and vulnerable.

  BILLY JOEL can't change his past, but he can change his view of his past. The Piano Man has decided to cancel his planned memoir. "The Book of Joel" was scheduled for publication in June. HarperCollins had billed it as an "emotional ride" that would detail the music luminary's failed marriages, including his union with Christie Brinkley , as well as his battles with substance abuse. Earlier this month, the publishing company even revealed the cover photo for the book.

Caswell F. Holloway Jr., 86, a former builder of South Jersey condominiums, died of complications from pneumonia Saturday, Sept. 18, at his home in Jupiter, Fla., where he had lived since the mid-1980s. For decades before, he lived in Haverford and Villanova. Born in Chester, Mr. Holloway graduated from St. James High School there in 1941, earned a football scholarship to Villanova University, and transferred to the Merchant Marine Academy, from which he earned a degree in engineering in 1944.

A baby is on the way for Alicia and Swizz Alicia Keys' tummy bump is a baby bump, her reps have confirmed. The transcendentally beatific R&B singer is expecting her first child. The papa is Swizz Beatz, a (non-Swiss) producer much prized for his work with Beyonc? and Jay-Z. Alicia and Swizz (Kasseem Dean) collaborated on the suggestive tune "Put It in a Love Song," from her new CD. "Swizz and I started that song, and it created this really fun feeling," Alicia told USA Today in December.

U.S.A., U.S.A. The United States will have a chance to play for a medal at the 2011 ice hockey world champions after T.J. Oshie scored three times in the penalty shoot-out for a 3-2 win over Italy to avoid relegation in Cologne, Germany. The U.S. team swept its demotion group, winning all three games. France also avoided relegation by defeating Kazakhstan, 5-3, for second place. Third-place Italy and last-place Kazakhstan will play in the second division next year. New York Rangers forward Brandon Dubinsky gave the Americans a 1-0 lead after 12 minutes.

After proposing massive financial cuts to education, Gov. Christie on Sunday received a muted reception when he accepted an honorary degree at Rutgers University's commencement. When Christie was introduced to an audience of about 12,000 graduates and their families, who sat on folding chairs beneath tall shade trees, there was scattered enthusiastic clapping, followed by a few jeers and then a shout to "sit down. " Christie then began speaking, and after nearly 10 minutes of frank comments about the need to have courage and the need to follow one's life passion, the applause became warm and widespread before the governor took his seat.

INQUIRER STAFF WRITER NEW BRUNSWICK, N.J. - After proposing massive financial cuts to education, Gov. Christie on Sunday received a muted reception when he accepted an honorary degree at Rutgers University's commencement. When Christie was introduced to an audience of about 12,000 graduates and their families, who sat on folding chairs beneath tall shade trees, there was scattered enthusiastic clapping, followed by a few jeers and then a shout to "sit down. " Christie then began speaking, and after nearly 10 minutes of frank comments about the need to have courage and the need to follow one's life passion, the applause became warm and widespread before the governor took his seat.