UNIVERSITY CANCELS COMMON AS COMMENCEMENT SPEAKER
UNION, N.J. (AP) _ Kean University in New Jersey wanted Common as commencement speaker for the music he’s made. Now it’s cancelled him because of the music he’s made. The Record newspaper reports Common was announced as the speaker on Monday but university spokeswoman Susan Kayne says the announcement was made prematurely. Kayne says students expressed interest in Common because he composed the Oscar-winning song “Glory” with John Legend, who was their last commencement speaker. However, state troopers consider it a slap in the face to invite Common because of “A Song for Assata.” It’s a track he did in 2000 about Assata Shakur, who was convicted of killing a state trooper in 1973.
Alwin Marshall-Squire is the Editor-in-Chief of S-Q Publications Inc., overseeing editorial strategy for GTA Weekly, GTA Today, and Vision Newspaper. He leads the publications’ mission to deliver bold, original journalism focused on the people and communities of the Greater Toronto Area, Canada, and the global Caribbean diaspora.
Also writes for GTA Weekly and GTA Today.
