A new committee to find keynote Commencement speakers began requesting nominations this week, in an effort to give the GW community a larger role in the traditionally secretive process.

University President Steven Knapp formed the committee this spring, after several years of controversy surrounding the selection of the speaker. Though students were able to suggest ideas in the past, it was not formalized process.

“Hopefully there will be an appreciation for the selection process and how difficult it can become,” said University spokeswoman Tracy Schario. “The Commencement speaker is perhaps the most visible speaker that we have on campus during the year, so we hope that people feel it is a participatory and open and transparent process.”

Submissions for Commencement speakers should be sent to the committee, which is comprised of University administrators, professors, and students. The group will then recommend a short list of potential speakers to Knapp and other University officials.

Grae Baxter, executive director of the undergraduate honors program and member of the advisory committee, said the new selection process should lessen controversy.

“Students will feel, as long as they are willing to put in their input, happier with the choice of the Commencement speaker,” Baxter said. “The committee promises to take all views into consideration.”

Last year, conservative students were critical of the University’s selection of NAACP Chairman Julian Bond, who had made controversial comments about the Republican Party during his career.

In 2007, former University president Stephen Joel Trachtenberg was slated to give the keynote address, a decision that did not receive substantial support from students. In response, the University brought in several well-known figures like CNN’s Wolf Blitzer to give short speeches during Commencement.

Schario said new selection process should help decrease controversy surrounding Commencement speakers.

“Hopefully the speaker who is finally selected will not be controversial, but you never know,” Schario said.

Students and GW community members interested in taking part in the selection process must submit the name of the speaker along with a brief reason for their choice.

All submissions are due by Oct. 17, and should be sent to the Commencement Web site at commencement.gwu.edu.