First Lady Hillary Rodham Clinton will be presented with an Honorary Doctor of Laws degree at this year's commencement ceremony May 27.
"We feel proud that she will be an alumna of SF State. She could literally have spoken at any campus, but she chose this one," SF State President Robert A. Corrigan said. "I think it helps the students' self-esteem -- they can say the wife of the president wants to speak at SF State."
Corrigan said he was told by the first lady's staff that it was the university's diverse student body which attracted her to address the graduating class of 1995.
An invitation was sent to Hillary Rodham Clinton, along with two university journals -- Breaking New Ground and Meeting the Urban Challenge -- published by the office of communications and public affairs.
"We are told one thing that persuaded her was the images in those publications," Corrigan said.
But while the university emphasizes campus diversity as a motivating factor for Mrs. Clinton's visit, Professor Richard Deleon, chair of the political science department, said addressing SF State is a great way for the Clintons to maintain their political base in San Francisco.
"Clinton has been under attack in terms of backsliding on promises he made during his campaign," Deleon said. "They could bring Hillary Clinton out here to reconnect and reengage the Bay area. It would be a good political strategy not to take it [the Bay area] for granted."
Neil Lattimore, the first lady's press secretary, denies that the decision to speak at SF State was politically motivated.
"We were invited, and we haven't been to San Francisco in a while," he said.
According to Lattimore, Mrs. Clinton accepts two to three commencement addresses each year and tries to cover as much ground as possible.
After addressing SF State graduates, she will speak at Brooklyn College June 1, and the University of Minnesota June 11.
Not everyone on campus is impressed with having the first lady as commencement speaker.
Kali McGraw, co-chair of the Lesbian Gay Bisexual Alliance, said the first lady's visit may be a way to smooth relations with the gay and lesbian community.
McGraw, who said she is dissatisfied with the Clinton administration's handling of gay and lesbian issues, would have preferred another speaker.
"I would have picked someone else. Someone who makes promises and follows up on them, as well as being dynamic," she said.
Aimee Barnes, a representative of the Student Center Governing Board and a member of the Pan-Afrikan Student Union, said she's not sure why the first lady decided to speak at SF State, but is concerned about the university's priorities in arranging her visit.
"It shows how this university can do things when it benefits the image of the school," Barnes said. "I'm sure it took a great deal of effort, communication and money to bring her here. Perhaps that same effort can be used to secure some of the services that are deteriorating on campus."
Ligeia Polidora, director of public affairs and communications, said while SF State is not being charged a speaker's fee by Mrs. Clinton, the university is doing some work to spruce up Cox Stadium.
"We want to showcase the university and the students at their best, but the work they're doing [at Cox Stadium] is minimal," Polidora said.
At press time, the exact amount of money being spent preparing for the first lady's visit was not available.
Deleon said many students are underestimating themselves by reacting so surprised that the first lady would choose to speak at SF State.
"Is it so shocking that anyone would consider us worthy of her presence?" he asked. "We're a major campus, with 28,000 students, in a major center of democratic progressive politics. So to me, when Hillary comes, I say, 'of course.'"
Rev. Cecil Williams of San Francisco's Glide Memorial United Methodist Church will receive an Honorary Doctor of Humane Letters degree at the commencement ceremony as well.
Mark Friedman contributed to this article