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When the Boston Globe ran a photograph last month of Boston College graduates snoozing through their commencement speech, university outcry compelled the paper to apologize. It did, saying the decision was “inappropriate” and misrepresented the reality of the ceremony.

The speaker? Tim Russert, of NBC’s “Meet the Press.”

A fixture of the college commencement, featured speakers often tend toward the sentimental – and the soporific. Some universities begin courting them months in advance, spend thousands of dollars to reel them in, and often issue honorary degrees as compensation.

Finding speakers is a calculated effort, an exercise in politics as much as in predicting the value of their end-of-year message. At UCLA, commencement speakers for The College – the largest ceremony – must have graduated from the university to be allowed to speak.

The restriction rules out many high-profile, highly sought-after names in the political and entertainment circles – Secretary of State Colin Powell, National Security Adviser Condoleeza Rice, Jon Stewart of Comedy Central’s “The Daily Show” and “Nightline’s” Ted Koppel among them.

The tradition, respected since June 2002 when the four division ceremonies were collapsed into a single College commencement, was initiated by then-College Provost Brian Copenhaver with the intention of involving the Alumni Association.

The first year, it was Dov Seidman, CEO of a legal research office. In 2003, it was L.A. County Supervisor Zev Yaroslavsky. This year, Oscar-nominated producer Frank Marshall – of “The Sixth Sense,” “Seabiscuit” and “Raiders of the Lost Ark” fame – will speak at The College ceremony.

And at least a few soon-to-be graduates are wondering, “Who?”

A trio of undergraduate film junkies studying in the Franklin D. Murphy Sculpture Garden on Thursday said the name wasn’t familiar, but recognized him after being reminded of his filmography. Jordan Clarke, a third-year English student carrying a soccer ball by Pauley Pavilion, said he couldn’t think of who the soccer field at Drake Stadium was named after (Frank W. Marshall).

While different universities involve their student bodies in the speaker selection process to varying degrees, UCLA does not have a formal method for students to give their input.

The university has not entertained student participation in the selection process since the 1980s because the university begins its search a year in advance, and student involvement is therefore “very inefficient,” says John Sandbrook, an assistant provost in The College.

UC Berkeley leaves the decision entirely up to a student group run through the Alumni Association, which solicits student input and this year invited Koppel to speak.

A spokeswoman from Loyola Marymount said there “can be student involvement,” but that the final decision is left to the university’s president. This year, he invited actress Goldie Hawn. The same goes for USC, whose president selected Arizona Senator John McCain.

USC issued McCain an honorary degree at its ceremony in May, another popular ritual UCLA does not participate in. The University of California regents voted in 1972 to prohibit the university system from issuing honorary degrees. Comedian and perennial commencement speaker Bill Cosby has collected dozens; comedian Bob Hope had 54 when he died in July 2003.

The closest UCLA gets to issuing honorary degrees is the UCLA medal, which this year will be given to Walt Disney chairman and former senator George Mitchell, as well as to businessman George Aratani, who endowed a chair at the Asian American Studies Center in February.

Two years ago, students in the Graduate School of Education and Information Studies protested Dean Aimee Dorr’s invitation to first lady – and librarian and teacher – Laura Bush on the basis of having shaky credentials. Bush later declined to speak.