Rev. Jesse L. Jackson will be this year's Class Day Speaker at the Kennedy School of Government (KSG), the school announced yesterday.

A renowned civil rights leader and a two-time presidential candidate, Jackson will address this year's crop of graduating KSG students in the ARCO Forum on June 9.

Kennedy School Dean Joseph S. Nye Jr. said he was happy with the decision.

"Jesse Jackson is a terrific orator, and it should be an exciting speech," he said.

Many KSG students had similar reactions.

"This is a great decision. Jackson is truly one of the nation's best orators, and no matter where a student lies on the political spectrum, they have to be pleased with this choice," said Joshua Lippard, a second-year masters in public policy (MPP) student.

Lippard also said he thought Jackson would present a refreshing point of view.

"Jackson's liberalism will be an interesting juxtaposition with the more conservative bent Alan Greenspan will present to the College at its commencement," he said.

Edward Dunn, another second-year student, also praised the choice.

"Jackson is a great American," he said, "He is imbued with the spirit for public service that the Kennedy School represents."

Recently, Jackson has made headlines and sparked controversy by orchestrating the release of three American POWs from Kosovo. Jackson went ahead on his mission without the consent of the State Department.

Charles E. Lewis, a second-year MPP student and president of the KSG student government, said the recent events make the selection of Jackson particularly timely.

"It puts the Kennedy School at the forefront of the debate," he said.

Nye said he did not think Jackson's actions in Kosovo would have a negative effect on his reception.

"I believe the students will focus on Jackson's career as a whole and not on his most recent endeavor," he said.

In both 1984 and 1988, Jackson made a bid for the Democratic Party's presidential nomination. In 1984, Jackson received 3.5 million votes and, in 1988, 7 million.

Jackson is president and founder of the Rainbow/PUSH Coalition, a multicultural activist group, and since 1992 has been the host of the television program "Both Sides With Jesse Jackson" which airs on CNN.

In October 1997, Jackson was appointed by President Clinton and Secretary of State Madeleine K. Albright to be special envoy of the president and secretary of state for the promotion of democracy in Africa.