HANOVER, N.H. -- Television's Mr. Rogers greeted many of this year's Dartmouth College seniors daily when they were children, but some are not pleased he will be greeting them on graduation day.

Discussion

Mr. Rogers An Unwelcome Neighbor?

Latrobe, Pa., native Fred Rogers, of "Mr. Rogers' Neighborhood" fame, is this weekend's commencement speaker.

"It's like Barney the dinosaur speaking at our graduation," said history major Michael Weiss. "We're 22 years old and we're getting lectured by a guy who plays with puppets for a living."

Some student skeptics said they wondered whether Rogers would greet the graduates with a cheery "Hello, neighbor," change his shoes before speaking, or wear his characteristic cardigan sweater rather than a cap and gown.

Dartmouth College President James Wright, who made the final choice of the commencement speaker, said a good speaker is someone students can look up to, who can draw from experience and make timely remarks.

Past Dartmouth commencement speakers have included Robert Reich, Bill Clinton, George Mitchell and Madeline Albright.

Rogers, 74, attended Dartmouth for two years during the 1940s before transferring to Rollins College in Winter Park, Fla.