<Back

Former director of UNICEF to speak Monday

Carol Bellamy's controversial decisions appealed to Commencement Committee

by Linn Davis

Carol Bellamy, former executive director of UNICEF, the United Nations Children's Fund, will speak at Commencement on Monday.

After ten years with the organization, Bellamy left her post in April. She has since taken a job as President and CEO of World Learning, a Vermont-based non-governmental organization focused on international education.

"We're really glad to have her and lucky to catch her at the end of her UNICEF tenure," said Rachel Bly '93, director of Conference Operations for the office of Communications and Events. "I think the timing for this was fortuitous. This gave her an opportunity to give a major address at the end of her tenure."

Bellamy took over the organization in 1995 after two years as director of the Peace Corps. In two terms as head of UNICEF, she broadened its objectives to include advocacy and on-the-ground work for women's rights, education and healthcare.

UNICEF maintained long-standing child medical care and hunger relief programs, but Bellamy argued that improving women's lives aided children's interests as well.

This move, however, won Bellamy her share of critics. In 2003, the Catholic Family and Human Rights Institute published a report stating that Bellamy was a "radical feminist" and a "fervent abortion proponent."

Detractors claimed that Bellamy's new direction for the organization was "dangerous," degrading to males and "anti-child." They recommended that the United States, by far UNICEF's largest supporter, withhold its contributions.

In the end, Bellamy did not change her policies, and the Bush administration did not deny UNICEF funding.

"I think that's one of the things that appealed to us-that she hasn't been afraid to get out there and push the envelope," Bly said. "She's been a little controversial, in a good way."

According to Bly, Bellamy has been to Grinnell before, when she was director of the Peace Corps in the early 90s. Grinnell has long been one of the top colleges in the nation in the number of alumni per capita who join Peace Corps following graduation.

"I know she thought highly about Grinnell even before she was asked," Bly said.

Names of possible speakers came from a variety of sources, said Bly, including faculty, staff, students and lists of past candidates.

The senior-run Commencement Committee, along with Bly, then narrowed the list of names to a handful of potential speakers and ranked them. The committee, which is also in charge of organizing events such as 100 Days, Baccalaureate, the Senior Showcase and the Senior Party at Harris, did not iron out its final choices until after winter break.

"We try as much as possible to make it the decision of students on the committee," Bly said.

The faculty will also award Bellamy an honorary degree at Commencement. This is customary, although not obligatory, for commencement speakers.

Ann Veneman, former Secretary of Agriculture during President Bush's first term, has replaced Bellamy at UNICEF. Veneman is expected to return the organization to its more traditional child-focused policies.

<Back