Student Speaker Selection Committee

The Student Speaker Selection Committee will be composed of 10-20 students as well as 3-5 members from the Commencement Committee. The goal is to have the committee composite representative of UB Law.  

The goal is to have the committee composite representative of UB Law.  The following student organizations will have 1 spot reserved for a 3L on the committee:

  • Asian Law Students Association (ALSA)
  • Black Law Students Association (BLSA)
  • Diversity, Equity and Inclusion Council (DEI Council)
  • First-Generation Law Students Association (FGLSA)
  • Jewish Law Students Association (JLSA)
  • Latin American Law Students Association (LALSA)
  • Law Students with Disabilities and Neurodivergencies (LSDN)
  • Military Law and Veterans Association (MLVA)
  • Native Indigenous Law Students Association (NILSA)
  • OUTLaw
  • Parents and Law Students (PALS)
Committee Application  click to fill out the application
Questions?

Please email any questions or concerns to: law-studentlife@buffalo.edu.

The student representing the above student groups cannot be considered for student speaker. We recommend that the student groups select their representative by a majority vote held by their members. The remainder of the students who express an interest in joining the committee will be randomly selected (name in a hat and pulled). The drawing will be held publicly in the lobby of O’Brian Hall on March 6th at 12:00 p.m. If a student’s name was put forward via one of the above groups, another name will be pulled again.

Selection Process

The Student Selection Committee will work together to:

  • Evaluate the potential speakers via a rubric.
  • Review the speeches on paper and video.
  • Meet to discuss the speeches.
  • Meet to view and discuss the live presentations from finalists.

Deliberate to select a student commencement speaker.

The student speaker is required to record a 2-minute video presentation of their speech. Their speech does not have to be in its final form but should convey the kind of oralist they would be at graduation. The video should be uploaded to Box. Only the Student Speaker Selection Committee will be able to view their speeches, not their competitors.

The top finalists must present their final speech in front of the Student Speaker Selection Committee and the Commencement Committee in-person. The committee groups can deliberate together, but only the Student Speaker Selection Committee can vote on the finalists’ presentation.

After deliberation, whichever finalist holds the majority vote, will be the student speaker at commencement.

Important Dates

  • Tuesday, March 5, 11:59 p.m. - Student speaker selection committee Deadline
  • Wednesday, March 6, 12:00 p.m. - O’Brian Hall Lobby - Student Speaker Selection Committee Drawing
  • Wednesday, March 13, 11:59 p.m. - Student Speaker Application Deadline
  • Friday, March 29, 11:59 p.m. - Top 3 candidates’ Names Due  
  • Wednesday, April 3, 12:00-12:30 p.m. - Live Auditions
  • Thursday, April 4- Student Speaker Committee Deliberations
  • Monday, April 8 - Student Speaker Announcement
  • Wednesday, May 1 - Student Speaker Rehearsal

Committee Application