President Clinton will be the featured speaker at MIT's graduation ceremonies this June, one day after former Irish President Mary Robinson addresses Harvard's seniors.

MIT officials said the White House had initially contacted the Institute on Friday about the possibility of the President speaking at its commencement.

Winners of the annual scramble among universities to snag big-name commencement speakers often reap the benefits in increased press attention.

A proud MIT president Dr. Charles M. Vest attributed Clinton's decision to MIT's leadership in innovation and technology.

"We are honored and delighted that President Clinton has selected MIT as the place to deliver a major address to people who will be leaders of the 21st century," Vest said in a statement. "The future will be shaped in large measure by advances in science and technology, and MIT is the home of many of the people making those advances."

Clinton will share the podium with AIDS researcher and Institute alumnus Dr. David D. Ho, whom MIT had invited to speak in February, at MIT's June 5 ceremonies.

MIT has recently scored high in the race for celebrity commencement speakers. The list includes United Nations Secretary General Kofi A. Annan last June, Vice President Al Gore '69 in 1996, Harvard Corporation member Hanna H. Gray in 1995 and The Aga Kahn '58 in 1994.

Clinton's acceptance of MIT's invitation brings his commencement speech total to three this spring. The President, who spoke at Princeton University last year, is also planning to speak at the U.S. Naval Academy in Annapolis and Portland State University in Oregon, the Associated Press reported.

Students Back Robinson

While expressing disappointment 1at missing Clinton's speech, which will occurafter students have left campus, Harvardundergraduates said they continue to support theUniversity's choice of Robinson, the UnitedNations High Commissioner for Refugees.

"Given what's going on in Ireland right now, itwould be a bit presumptuous to look down on MaryRobinson," said Undergraduate Council presidentBeth A. Stewart '00.

Others said they wished Clinton had chosenHarvard.

"That's disappointing," said Lamelle D. Rawlins'99, a former council president who interned inthe Clinton White House last summer. "I'mcertainly jealous."

Harvard-Radcliffe College Democrats PresidentMichael J. Passante '99 said he wasn't insultedthat the President he supported had chosen anotherschool.

"I don't feel slighted or anything," Passantesaid. "So much the better for the people at MIT."

Stewart and Passante both speculated thatClinton's busy schedule might have prevented thePresident from speaking at Harvard this year.

Passante, who plans to intern at the WhiteHouse this summer, offered another theory: Gorespoke at Harvard's 1995 commencement, when hiseldest daughter, Karenna, graduated from theCollege, while Clinton visited the campus duringthe 1992 presidential campaign.

Students said Clinton might prefer to speakduring the more symbolic 2000 Commencement.

"Maybe he's waiting for the year 2000 so he canbuild the bridge to the 21st century at the best,"Passante said