It’s been a busy spring for protests over commencement speakers. Here are two more.

Students at Portland State University are protesting its invitation to a member of the U.S. House of Representatives to speak at commencement because he voted for legislation that would treat illegal immigrants as felons, The Oregonian reported this morning. The congressman, Peter DeFazio, an Oregon Democrat, said he supported other parts of the bill and expected the felony provisions to be stripped out. The protesters said he was an unsuitable speaker for a diverse university. Portland State officials said Mr. DeFazio was being recognized for his support of higher education. They also said the invitation stands.

Meanwhile, students and faculty members at the New School, a liberal bastion in New York, are demanding that it withdraw an invitation to Sen. John McCain as commencement speaker, The New York Times reported today. The protesters say the Arizona Republican, a likely presidential candidate in 2008, is using the New School as a platform to advance his political career and make himself appear to be more liberal-leaning than he really is, particularly since he is also speaking this spring at the Rev. Jerry Falwell’s Liberty University. The students also criticized the university’s president, Bob Kerrey, a friend and former colleague of Mr. McCain in the U.S. Senate. Mr. Kerrey said universities should strive to land the best commencement speakers, and he said the invitation stands.

The controversies in Oregon and New York are two of many on American campuses this spring (The Chronicle, April 20, April 20, May 4, May 4, and May 9).