Tag: class day

Princeton students upset Marshawn Lynch named ‘Class Day’ speaker

Princeton students have expressed their concern over Seahawks running back Marshawn Lynch being named as their ‘Class Day’ speaker.

Seattle Seahawks running back Marshawn Lynch was bestowed quite an honor recently, being named the “Class Day” speaker for Princeton University seniors, celebrating honorary class members.

Some Princeton seniors, however, apparently aren’t pleased with the selection process this year and expressed their concerns in an op-ed published by the student newspaper.

“As seniors, we had been looking forward to the speaker announcement for months,” the letter begins. “Many of us were disappointed when we saw that this year’s speaker was to be Marshawn Lynch, mainly because we did not feel included in the process by which this speaker was nominated and finally selected.”

The students noted Lynch’s treatment of the media during his first run with the Seahawks as one of their causes for concern.

“Among articles that praised his NFL career and philanthropic contributions, we came across articles discussing Lynch’s reticence with the media and his terse responses at press conferences,” the students wrote. “In 2013 and 2014, for example, Lynch was fined $50,000 and $100,000 for refusing to speak to the media. During the 2015 Superbowl Media Day, Lynch famously responded to multiple questions with variants of ‘I’m just here so I won’t get fined.’

“With no other frame of reference, such reports caused confusion over the set of criteria that led to his nomination.”

While the students might not be pleased with Lynch as this year’s “Class Day” speaker, as a media member who has covered him since he first set foot in Seattle, I can assure them at least his speech will be short.

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Marshawn Lynch to speak at Princeton’s Class Day ceremony

Former Seattle Seahawks running back Marshawn Lynch has been selected as the Class Day speaker at Princeton University’s graduation.

Seattle Seahawks running back Marshawn Lynch is known as a lot of things: elite football player, philanthropist, entrepreneur, actor, and now – public speaker.

Lynch’s past public speaking endeavors have been noted primarily for their brevity, as he has made it clear conversing with the media is not his cup of tea.

When he does speak, he often leaves the listeners with extremely memorable sound bites, including his most recent “take care of yo’ chicken” advice to younger players, which Lynch has now trademarked and branded with his clothing line, Beast Mode Apparel.

Lynch’s next speaking event won’t be to the NFL’s young talent, but rather the 2020 graduating class at Princeton University, one of America’s most prestigious colleges.

“Mr. Lynch’s sustained professional excellence is not the only reason we are excited to have him serve as our Class Day speaker,” said a few of the Class Day co-chairs. “His substantive work in communities stands alongside his on-field success…From his stops in the Bay Area, to Buffalo, to Seattle, Mr. Lynch has always prioritized community engagement and empowerment by leveraging his prominence as a professional athlete to promote opportunities for civic engagement and social justice.”

No word on if Lynch’s financial advice will be the same with Princeton grads as it was to the rest of the NFL – but you can bet it will be entertaining nonetheless.

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