Mayor Michael Bloomberg of New York City recently announced a plan to ban large, sugary sodas and drinks in restaurants, movie theaters, and streetcarts in the city. This action is part of an effort to decrease obesity. The ban applies to drinks over 16 fluid ounces (most Coca Cola bottles are around 20 fluid ounces). According to the New York Times, the ban would not apply to diet sodas, fruit juices, milkshakes, or alcoholic beverages.

Our neighbors in New York are combating obesity; how would you feel if D.C. politicians imposed a similar ban here?

Last Friday, George Washington University President Steven Knapp announced that New York City Mayor Michael Bloomberg will give the GW’s commencement speech this coming May. Last year, First Lady Michelle Obama gave GW’s commencement speech.

“Sounds like GW got a terrific speaker,” Julie Green Bataille, associate vice president for communications, admitted in an e-mail.

If history is a precedent, Georgetown is unlikely to announce its commencement speaker for several more months. Last year, Georgetown didn’t officially release its list of speakers until late April.

Although Meghan Hogge, director of academic events, declined to comment on GW’s pick and the status of Georgetown’s own selection process, all signs suggest that this year’s announcement will have to wait until next semester.

“Georgetown will have individual commencement speakers for each ceremony and I do not anticipate having a final list until much closer to our actual commencement dates,” Bataille wrote.

At last May’s commencement ceremonies, the nine speakers—one for each school and one for the ROTC commissioning ceremony—included Dikembe Mutombo (SLL ’91) and Bob Schieffer.

Photo: Flickr user “shootingbrooklyn“