Sandeep Nandy writes, "According to the main Rensselaer website, pediatric neurosurgeon Benjamin Carson has been selected to be this year's Rensselaer commencement speaker."

"Since 1984, Carson has served as director of the division of pediatric surgery at Johns Hopkins. He rose to national prominence in 1987, when he led a medical team that separated West German conjoined twins who were connected at the cranium. Both children survived the surgery."

"Dr. Carson will receive an honorary doctorate degree in science. Other honorary degree recipients will be Robert Solow, Richard Smalley, Morris Silverman, Donna Shahala and state senate majority leader Joesph Bruno."

"The 197th commencement exercises at Rensselaer will take place on Saturday May 17th beginning at 9:30 am on the Harkness Field. The commencement program will be followed by a campuswide picnic held on the '86 Field."