Others said that after the University announced last month that Alan Greenspan--head of the Federal Reserve Board and one of the most influential people in the world--would deliver the June 10 Commencement address, they were looking forward to having a less political speaker.

"In terms of both graduation and Class Day, Iwas hoping for someone with less of a politicalagenda, maybe someone in the arts," said Clare VanEenwyk '99.

But Radcliffe First Marshal Tally Zingher '99said students should be pleased to hear Simpsonexpand on the speech introductions he regularlydoes.

"He's usually the moderator, but here he'll beat the center," Zingher said.

Santos said Simpson, with a life involvingpolitics and education, has a fascinating lifeperspective to offer students.

Davis said the committee is also pleased withSimpson because he understands the significance ofClass Day.

"He seemed happy to do it and appreciate whatthe event is," Davis said.

Santos said Class Day is a time when seniorscan escape the more regulated, ceremonial aspectsof Commencement and have a more emotionalexperience.

Class Marshal Kimble Poon '99 said the speakerdoes not play the most important role in theoccasion.

"I think people are going to be hyped up aboutClass Day anyway," Poon said. "It's the lastinformal day we'll all be together."

Class Day will also feature three studentspeeches--a Harvard speech by a male student, aRadcliffe speech by a female student and ahumorous Ivy Oration by a student of eithergender.

A group of senior singers from a cappellagroups will present the class ode, a parody of thesong "Fair Harvard" specifically geared to theclass of '99.

Previous Class Day speakers have includedformer Massachusetts Governor and father of DavidM. Weld '98, William F. Weld '66; music producerand father of Rashida Jones '97, Quincy Jones; andNBC news anchor Tom Brokaw