Condoleezza Rice declines to speak at Rutgers after student protests

By Kristina Sguelglia, CNN

Updated 0601 GMT (1401 HKT) May 5, 2014

Author and HBO host Bill Maher is scheduled to be the commencement speaker at University of California, Berkeley in December 2014. <a href="https://www.change.org/p/university-of-california-berkeley-stop-bill-maher-from-speaking-at-uc-berkeley-s-december-graduation" target="_blank">A petition on Change.org</a> urges the school to cancel Maher's speech, calling Maher "a blatant bigot and racist." Here, Maher attends the Summer TCA Tour in 2011. Click through to see more of 2014's big-name commencement speakers.
Photos: 2014's big-name commencement speakers
2014's big-name commencement speakers – Author and HBO host Bill Maher is scheduled to be the commencement speaker at University of California, Berkeley in December 2014. A petition on Change.org urges the school to cancel Maher's speech, calling Maher "a blatant bigot and racist." Here, Maher attends the Summer TCA Tour in 2011. Click through to see more of 2014's big-name commencement speakers.
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The founders and co-chairs of the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation gave the commencement address at Stanford University on June 15. "Even in dire situations, optimism can fuel innovation and lead to new tools to eliminate suffering. But if you never really see the people who are suffering, your optimism can't help them. You will never change their world," Bill Gates told students.<br />
Photos: 2014's big-name commencement speakers
Bill and Melinda Gates – The founders and co-chairs of the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation gave the commencement address at Stanford University on June 15. "Even in dire situations, optimism can fuel innovation and lead to new tools to eliminate suffering. But if you never really see the people who are suffering, your optimism can't help them. You will never change their world," Bill Gates told students.
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The creator of "Scandal" and "Grey's Anatomy" spoke at Dartmouth College's commencement on June 8. "Whenever you see me somewhere succeeding in one area of my life, that almost certainly means I am failing in another area of my life," <a href="http://www.cnn.com/video/?/video/us/2014/06/10/pkg-shonda-rhimes-dartmouth-graduation-speech.wcax&video_referrer=">she told the graduates</a>. Rhimes is a 1991 graduate of the college.
Photos: 2014's big-name commencement speakers
Shonda Rhimes – The creator of "Scandal" and "Grey's Anatomy" spoke at Dartmouth College's commencement on June 8. "Whenever you see me somewhere succeeding in one area of my life, that almost certainly means I am failing in another area of my life," she told the graduates. Rhimes is a 1991 graduate of the college.
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Michael Bloomberg, center, gave <a href="http://www.cnn.com/2014/05/29/us/bloomberg-harvard-speech/index.html">the commencement speech at Harvard University on May 29, 2014</a>. Bloomberg, Aretha Franklin, left, and George H.W. Bush, right, also received honorary degrees. "This spring, it has been disturbing to see a number of college commencement speakers withdraw -- or have their invitations rescinded -- after protests from students and -- to me, shockingly -- from senior faculty and administrators who should know better," the businessman and former mayor of New York City said during his speech.<br />
Photos: 2014's big-name commencement speakers
Michael Bloomberg – Michael Bloomberg, center, gave the commencement speech at Harvard University on May 29, 2014. Bloomberg, Aretha Franklin, left, and George H.W. Bush, right, also received honorary degrees. "This spring, it has been disturbing to see a number of college commencement speakers withdraw -- or have their invitations rescinded -- after protests from students and -- to me, shockingly -- from senior faculty and administrators who should know better," the businessman and former mayor of New York City said during his speech.
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Sandra Bullock was the surprise commencement speaker at Warren Easton Charter High School's graduation in New Orleans on May 19. She has supported the school since shortly after Hurricane Katrina in 2005. Her advice? "Stop worrying so much. Stop being scared of the unknown, because anything I worried about didn't happen," Bullock told the graduates. Also: "Do not pick your nose in public."
Photos: 2014's big-name commencement speakers
Sandra Bullock – Sandra Bullock was the surprise commencement speaker at Warren Easton Charter High School's graduation in New Orleans on May 19. She has supported the school since shortly after Hurricane Katrina in 2005. Her advice? "Stop worrying so much. Stop being scared of the unknown, because anything I worried about didn't happen," Bullock told the graduates. Also: "Do not pick your nose in public."
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The actor offered some <a href="http://www.cnn.com/2014/05/28/showbiz/celebrity-news-gossip/jim-carrey-commencement-speech/index.html">inspiring words to the Maharishi University of Management in Fairfield, Iowa</a>, on May 24: "Like many of you, I was concerned about going out into the world and doing something bigger than myself, until someone smarter than myself made me realize that there is nothing bigger than myself," he said. "My soul is not contained within the limits of my body; my body is contained within the limitlessness of my soul."
Photos: 2014's big-name commencement speakers
Jim Carrey – The actor offered some inspiring words to the Maharishi University of Management in Fairfield, Iowa, on May 24: "Like many of you, I was concerned about going out into the world and doing something bigger than myself, until someone smarter than myself made me realize that there is nothing bigger than myself," he said. "My soul is not contained within the limits of my body; my body is contained within the limitlessness of my soul."
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The president of the United States delivered the commencement address at University of California-Irvine on June 14. During the speech, <a href="http://politicalticker.blogs.cnn.com/2014/06/14/climate-change-deniers-serious-threat-to-future-obama-says/">he called lawmakers and pundits who deny manmade climate</a> change a "fairly serious threat to everybody's future."
Photos: 2014's big-name commencement speakers
Barack Obama – The president of the United States delivered the commencement address at University of California-Irvine on June 14. During the speech, he called lawmakers and pundits who deny manmade climate change a "fairly serious threat to everybody's future."
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The vice president of the United States gives the commencement addresses at Miami-Dade College on May 3. He later spoke at the University of South Carolina on May 9 and his alma mater, the University of Delaware, on May 31.<br />
Photos: 2014's big-name commencement speakers
Joe Biden – The vice president of the United States gives the commencement addresses at Miami-Dade College on May 3. He later spoke at the University of South Carolina on May 9 and his alma mater, the University of Delaware, on May 31.
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The first lady delivers the commencement address at Dillard University in New Orleans on May 10. She'll also <a href="http://politicalticker.blogs.cnn.com/2014/04/24/first-lady-changes-plans-after-controversy-over-high-school-graduation-address/">speak to seniors in Topeka, Kansas, just before their graduation</a> and the District of Columbia College Access Program in Washington this year.
Photos: 2014's big-name commencement speakers
Michelle Obama – The first lady delivers the commencement address at Dillard University in New Orleans on May 10. She'll also speak to seniors in Topeka, Kansas, just before their graduation and the District of Columbia College Access Program in Washington this year.
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Gen. Colin Powell, the former secretary of state and chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, delivers the commencement speech at High Point University in North Carolina on May 3.
Photos: 2014's big-name commencement speakers
Colin Powell – Gen. Colin Powell, the former secretary of state and chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, delivers the commencement speech at High Point University in North Carolina on May 3.
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