NYS Attorney General Eliot Spitzer to
Deliver C.W. Post Commencement Address

New York State Attorney General Eliot Spitzer will receive an Honorary Doctorate of Laws and deliver the keynote address at the 46th annual commencement exercises of the C.W. Post Campus of Long Island University in Brookville, New York. Spitzer will address a graduating class of 2,500 undergraduate and graduate students and more than 7,000 guests at the Sunday, May 9, 2004 ceremony, which begins at 9:30 a.m. on the campus' Great Lawn.

Eliot Spitzer became the state’s 63rd Attorney General on January 1, 1999. Named "Crusader of the Year" by Time magazine in 2002, Spitzer has compiled an impressive record, spearheading a broad array of initiatives that have exposed corruption and have safeguarded the common good.

Focusing on investor protection, environmental stewardship, labor rights, personal privacy, public safety and criminal law enforcement, Attorney General Spitzer has been a tireless advocate for the people and a catalyst for dramatic reform. His investigation of Merrill Lynch set a new precedent in the financial services industry, encouraging watchdog litigation to ensure that America’s corporations are held accountable for their actions.

He is known for approaching cases from unique perspectives, building sound legal arguments by envisioning innovative applications of state law. His unconventional tactics have led to breakthrough results in the courtroom and in the community. In one instance, Midwest and Mid-Atlantic power plants were held responsible for producing pollutants that contribute to acid rain and smog in the Northeast. In another, his findings served as the foundation for a settlement that improved the nation’s largest gun manufacturer’s design and distribution policies to better serve the interests of public safety.

A graduate of Princeton University and Harvard Law School, Spitzer previously served as a clerk to United States District Court Judge Robert W. Sweet and as an associate at Paul, Weiss, Rifkind, Wharton and Garrison before taking on the responsibilities of assistant district attorney in Manhattan. He rose to become chief of that office’s Labor Racketeering Unit. In this role, Spitzer successfully tried high-profile organized crime cases. Other legal experience includes working for the New York law firm of Skadden, Arps, Slate, Meagher and Flom, as well as being a founding partner of Constantine & Partners.

Spitzer lives in Manhattan with his wife, Silda, and their three daughters. The couple also maintains a home in Columbia County, NY.

Spitzer will be awarded an Honorary Doctorate along with another highly accomplished individual: the composer, arranger, conductor and pianist Marvin Hamlisch, who is known for writing such unforgettable melodies as "The Way We Were," "One," "What I Did for Love," "They’re Playing Our Song" and the theme from "Ice Castles." Hamlisch is a graduate of the Juilliard School and Queens College. He will receive an Honorary Doctorate of Music.

Honorary Doctorates are awarded to individuals who, through their perseverance, dedication to their field, and commitment to community, serve as role models to students.

The Class of 2004 includes 941 baccalaureate degree candidates, 1,630 master's degree candidates, and thirteen doctoral students receiving the Psy.D. in clinical psychology.

C.W. Post is one of six campuses of Long Island University, the seventh largest private university in the United States. With more than 13,000 full- and part-time students, C.W. Post offers a broad range of undergraduate and graduate programs in accountancy, business (AACSB accredited), computer science, liberal arts and sciences, library and information science, education, health professions and nursing, public service, and visual and performing arts. C.W. Post also offers doctorates in information studies and clinical psychology as well as an extensive continuing education program.