LINKIN PARK - LINKIN REPLACES FRANCO AS UCLA GRADUATION SPEAKER

LINKIN REPLACES FRANCO AS UCLA GRADUATION SPEAKER

LINKIN PARK star BRAD DELSON will fill in for JAMES FRANCO by speaking to the Class of 2009 at the University of California, Los Angeles' graduation ceremony.
Students protested after the Spider-Man star was selected to serve as the keynote speaker at this year's (09) commencement, insisting he lacked "the wisdom and perspective such a speaker is meant to provide the graduates".
Franco subsequently pulled out of plans to deliver the speech, citing scheduling conflicts for his cancellation.
Now rocker Delson, who graduated from UCLA in 1999, has stepped in to replace Franco at the event on Friday (12Jun09).
And education officials are confident the guitarist, who founded a scholarship fund for California students in 2004, will dole out indispensable advice in his speech.
UCLA Dean Judith L. Smith says in a statement, "Brad Delson is not only an innovative musician, but he is also a social activist who is committed to change through education.
"I am thrilled that Brad will be helping to commemorate this important occasion in the lives of our graduates and their families, and we are grateful that he has agreed to do so on short notice.”