By Eric Ditzian

Out with the actor, in with the musician. That is UCLA's answer to the abrupt loss of the school's prospective commencement speaker James Franco, who controversially bailed to shoot a film in Ireland. His replacement is Linkin Park guitarist and UCLA alumnus Brad Delson.

How will students react to a musician whose band is most known for aggro shout-fests like "Bleed it Out" as the replacement for an actor known for his role as a baked-out drug dealer in "Pineapple Express"? If Franco didn't cut it, it's hard to imagine that Delson will, even though the LP guitarist has raised millions of dollars for several charitable causes and established annual four-year scholarships for exemplary UCLA students (which is the sort of charity that tends to go unnoticed).

But I'm going to side with college administrators on this one and against the students who protested the selection of Franco, arguing that he lacked the gravitas and credibility to deliver a commencement speech. As one who suffered through the incredibly boring speech of a decidedly non-Hollywood speaker during my own college graduation, I'm stumped as to why profundity is the key ingredient for such events. I guess one thing these students didn't learn over four years is to have a sense of humor.

Honestly, if you make it to graduation day, you've had more than enough time to attend classes and speeches and symposiums and lectures and debates, many of which will be punishingly dull. Graduation day is the time for celebration, laughter and entertainment. The recent speeches delivered by the likes of Will Ferrell, Conan O'Brien and Stephen Colbert are the ones that people truly remember. So give me your Francos and your Delsons and your Oliver Stones (the director is also set to speak). UCLA commencement on June 12 will be vastly more compelling because of them.