Bethune-Cookman invites Betsy DeVos to keynote commencement ceremony

NAACP leader calling invitation 'slap in the face'

DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. – Bethune-Cookman University, a historically black university, has invited U.S. Education Secretary Betsy DeVos as its keynote commencement speaker. The area NAACP leader calls the invitation a "slap in the face."

Officials with B-CU in Daytona Beach said Monday that DeVos will speak at the May 10 ceremony.

DeVos has been an outspoken champion of vouchers for charter and private schools. She was criticized earlier this year when she said historically black colleges were pioneers of school choice. In fact, most historically black schools were founded to give African-Americans educational opportunities they were denied because of racial segregation and discrimination.

The university announced the keynote speaker invitation on their website this week.

University president Edison Jackson said the school selected DeVos because “her mission to empower parents and students resonates with the history and legacy” of university founder Dr. Mary McLeod Bethune.

"Bethune-Cookman University is a school built on the legacy and the transformation of students. Dr. Bethune's love for students started with five little girls and grew to over 250 students during her time as university president,” Jackson said in a news release. "The legacy of Dr. Bethune is that she was not constrained by political ideology, but worked across all parties to support B-CU.”

NAACP Florida State Conference president Adora Obi Nweze said DeVos is undeserving of the invitation.

Students organized a protest for Tuesday night against DeVos speaking at the commencement ceremony.

Jackson released a statement Tuesday in response to the growing criticism.

“If our students are robbed of the opportunity to experience and interact with views that may be different from their own, then they will be tremendously less equipped for the demands of democratic citizenship,” he wrote.

Jackson said perhaps DeVos “will be inspired by the profound work that occurs here with our students.”

DeVos made her first public speaking appearance outside of Washington, D.C., in Central Florida last month.

The education secretary toured the Valencia College Manufacturing Training Center in Osceola County, then visited the main campus to talk to students at a roundtable about dual-enrollment.

DeVos was confirmed by the Senate as education secretary in February. Vice President Mike Pence broke the 50-50 tie for her nomination.

The Senate historian said it was the first time a vice president had to break a tie on a Cabinet nomination.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.


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