MARQUETTE, MI-- Michigan Governor Rick Snyder may encounter some student protestors when he gives Northern Michigan University’s May commencement address.
Graduating senior Nathan Frischkorn is part of the Facebook group Protest Snyder at Graduation. He says the governor’s failure to address the Flint water crisis is the main reason they’re against his presence. Frischkorn says that Snyder is just too divisive.
“We don’t think that a politician should be the commencement speaker, especially in such a politically heated climate,” he says.
Northern President Fritz Erickson says he respects the students’ right to protest, but the university must accommodate different opinions. Frischkorn, however, says commencement is supposed to be a celebration of student achievement.
“Most of us have spent at least four years working towards this day. We didn’t do that so we could have a debate about opposing viewpoints,” he says.
Graduation takes place May 5 at the Superior Dome.
