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Controversial commencement speakers —

Students at the University of California, Berkeley, pushed unsuccessfully for administrators to rescind Bill Maher's invitation as their 2014 fall commencement speaker. He's was not the first commencement speaker in recent years to spark controversy.

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Faculty and students at Rutgers University convinced former Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice<a href="index.php?page=&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.cnn.com%2F2014%2F05%2F04%2Fus%2Fcondoleeza-rice-rutgers-protests%2F"> to decline her graduation invitation</a>. The protestors objected to Rice's actions during the war in Iraq.

Controversial commencement speakers —

Faculty and students at Rutgers University convinced former Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice to decline her graduation invitation. The protestors objected to Rice's actions during the war in Iraq.

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Screenwriter Dustin Lance Black, who won an Oscar for "Milk," <a href="index.php?page=&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.latimes.com%2Fla-me-ra-dustin-lance-black-speech-20140511-column.html%23page%3D1" target="_blank" target="_blank">ended up speaking</a> to Pasadena City College graduates after being invited, dis-invited and then re-invited. The college originally rescinded its offer after learning Black was involved in a 2009 sex tape "scandal," but later asked him again to come after their <a href="index.php?page=&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.latimes.com%2Flocal%2Fabcarian%2Fla-me-ra-pasadena-college-commencement-speaker-fiasco-20140429-story.html%23page%3D1" target="_blank" target="_blank">replacement speaker backed out</a>.

Controversial commencement speakers —

Screenwriter Dustin Lance Black, who won an Oscar for "Milk," ended up speaking to Pasadena City College graduates after being invited, dis-invited and then re-invited. The college originally rescinded its offer after learning Black was involved in a 2009 sex tape "scandal," but later asked him again to come after their replacement speaker backed out.

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Controversial commencement speakers —

When high school students in Topeka, Kansas, found out they'd only be allowed six tickets a piece for friends and family to attend their graduation ceremony thanks to First Lady Michelle Obama's security detail, they asked her to speak on a separate Senior Recognition Day.

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<a href="index.php?page=&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.cnn.com%2F2013%2F01%2F02%2Fworld%2Fchristine-lagarde---fast-facts%2F">Christine Lagarde</a>, managing director of the International Monetary Fund, withdrew her name as Smith College's commencement speaker after 500 people <a href="index.php?page=&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.ipetitions.com%2Fpetition%2Freconsider-the-smith-college-2014-commencement" target="_blank" target="_blank">signed a petition</a> protesting the international organization's policies.

Controversial commencement speakers —

Christine Lagarde, managing director of the International Monetary Fund, withdrew her name as Smith College's commencement speaker after 500 people signed a petition protesting the international organization's policies.

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Brandeis University decided <a href="index.php?page=&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.nytimes.com%2F2014%2F04%2F09%2Fus%2Fbrandeis-cancels-plan-to-give-honorary-degree-to-ayaan-hirsi-ali-a-critic-of-islam.html%3F_r%3D0" target="_blank" target="_blank">not to give an honorary degree</a> to Ayaan Hirsi Ali, a Somali-born Dutch writer and fierce critic of Islam, after a Change.org petition attracted thousands of signatures. Ali was still invited to speak at the university, however.

Controversial commencement speakers —

Brandeis University decided not to give an honorary degree to Ayaan Hirsi Ali, a Somali-born Dutch writer and fierce critic of Islam, after a Change.org petition attracted thousands of signatures. Ali was still invited to speak at the university, however.

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