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What do people think about Celebrities and famous people being awarded Honorary Degrees?

Lorraine Kelly this week recieved an Honorary Doctor of Laws for her charity work, her own words were.

"Thirty years ago my mother was very disappointed that I didn't go to university and she didn't get that picture of me with the scroll under my arm that everybody has on their mantelpiece so she's really looking forward to it."

Lorraine Kelly would be more suited to an honorary degree for talking shit,and for being a two faced biatch.

Another 'celeb' that thinks she's important,and one,no doubt from the loose women brigade.God,i hate that programme !happy!

She's been the rector of the university in question (and did a bloody good job too), so it's no major surprise. The same institution also gave an honorary degree to BBC newsman and hostage Alan Johnston---but at least he was a legitimate graduate of the university 25 years ago.

I reckon it's a way of ensuring publicity for the universities---as simple as that. It'd be nice to work out exactly who decides who should get an honorary D.Litt or whatever, and why.

PR in other words.

Caractacus wrote:

> I reckon it's a way of ensuring publicity for the
> universities---as simple as that. It'd be nice to work out
> exactly who decides who should get an honorary D.Litt or
> whatever, and why.

Not sure how it works in the UK.
20 years ago I saw the process in action at a German university. The way it worked there was that an academic member of staff had proposed to hand out an honory degree to someone (who was not a celeb), and then it had to be approved by the departmental committee and then the academic senate.

They still do that with academics---at the same time the celebs get their doctorates, there will be some world-renowned biologist being honoured.

I don't think they're worth the paper they're written on. Can't see the point of them really, as those conferred with one are already successful in whatever field they chose.

I think you get one if you make a big donation - it's the old Cash for Honours syndrome.