Real Vonnegut Commencement Speech in Store

Real Vonnegut Commencement Speech in Store
RICE NEWS OFFICE
April 23, 1998

And now for the real Kurt Vonnegut commencement speech.

Vonnegut will deliver his very own speech to the Rice University commencement
class of ’98 on May 9. Sunscreen is optional.

Last summer an Internet hoax involving an alleged Vonnegut MIT commencement
speech made its way around the world. The whimsical speech, which begins, "Ladies
and gentlemen of the class of 1997: Wear sunscreen," was actually a column
written by Chicago Tribune columnist Mary Schmich.

Hundreds of thousands of Internet users–including Vonnegut’s wife Jill Krementz–were
fooled. The New York Times and "Nightline" reported on the international
phenomenon.

Vonnegut is one of America’s most acclaimed fiction writers and a favorite
among generations of college students. He is the author of such classics as
"Cat’s Cradle," "Sirens of Titan," "Mother Night"
and "Slaughterhouse Five."

Commencement ceremonies will begin at 8:30 a.m. in the academic quadrangle.

For related information visit the following Web site:
1998 Commencement information: http://www.ruf.rice.edu/~alumni/commence.html