Boston College Protest Against Rice Is Small

Dozens of faculty and students turned their backs and waved protest signs when Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice received an honorary degree from Boston College.

But the protest against Rice, a central player in President Bush’s Iraq policy, was smaller than had been expected, and those among the crowd of 25,000 who gave her a standing ovation outnumbered those who sat in silence.

Rice’s selection as commencement speaker had stirred controversy at the Jesuit school, where many oppose the war and say it contradicts Catholic teaching.