What did Ann Curry do that got her in trouble at Wheaton College in Massachusetts?”
When “Today” show news anchor Ann Curry delivered the commencement speech at Wheaton College in Massachusetts, she named a list of distinguished alumni, including the Rev. Billy Graham, Wes Craven and Dennis Hastert. The problem is the evangelist, the horror movie director and the former U.S. House Speaker all attended the Wheaton College in Illinois, not the one in Massachusetts. The NBC newswoman on Monday sent an apology letter to the Massachusetts school’s president, Ron Crutcher, and the college community. “I am mortified by my mistake,” she wrote, “and can only hope the purity of my motive, to find a way to connect with the graduates and encourage them to a life of service, will allow you to forgive me.” College spokesman Michael Graca said Tuesday the apology was accepted. “We thought it was heartfelt and genuine,” he said. The 405 graduates and school administrators knew something was amiss Saturday as soon as Curry reeled off the erroneous names, “but then the moment was over
The crowd at Saturday’s Wheaton College commencement may have wondered that while listening to Ann Curry’s speech to grads. The “Today” show anchor gave a shout-out to a few distinguished Wheaton alums, but there was one problem: They were alums of the other Wheaton College. Curry, a graduate of the University of Oregon, cited evangelist Billy Graham, horror director Wes Craven, and 9/11 hero Todd Beamer, who was a passenger on United Airlines flight 93. While it’s true all three attended Wheaton, it was the Christian liberal arts college in Illinois, not the school in Norton where Curry was speaking. “She gave a great speech,” said Wheaton spokesman Michael Graca. “She went out of her way to meet with students before her speech and to get information about the college.” The transcript and video of Curry’s 16-minute talk is posted on the college’s web site, but the reference to Graham, Craven, and Beamer has been edited. “We didn’t want to broadcast misinformation,” explained Graca, wh
Today’s poster child for human fallibility is “Today Show” anchor Ann Curry. Curry is poised, beautiful, successful and impossibly polished. And yet, she still managed to mix up which college she was giving a commencement address to this weekend during a speech at Wheaton College, Massachusetts. Curry delivered her inspirational speech with her usual poise and grace. Unfortunately, when she got to the point at which she wanted to remind the graduates of alum who had gone on to great things, she mentioned “60 Minutes” correspondent Lesley Stahl, evangelist Billy Graham, director Wes Craven, and United Airlines Flight 93 passenger Todd Beamer. All role models in their own way, certainly, but, with the exception of Stahl, all graduates of Wheaton College, Illinois, not Wheaton College, Mass. Oops.
