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TUCSON - A University of Arizona commencement speech from this past Friday has students, parents and faculty members talking after a professor brought up the immigration and ethnic studies bills at the podium.

"I just thought it was kind of a cheap shot," recent U of A graduate Katie Pavlich said.

When Pavlich received her diploma from the U of A, she did not want to hear about politics or immigration. But amidst boos and cheers, Dr. Sandra Soto, one of the professors at the university, laid it on the table during her commencement address.

"The new Arizona Law generally known as SB1070 is considered the strictest, anti immigrant legislation in the country," Soto said during the address.

Pavlich is a politically involved journalism major, often voicing her views on a radio talk show. But for Pavlich, graduation day just was not the right place.

"I just don't see how it had anything to do with our success and what we've done as students at the U of A and I just felt like it should have been a day about us, and what we've done. Not about what she believes and what she's done," Pavlich said.

Soto's speech to the College of Social and Behavioral Studies was not just about immigration. She also talked about the state's ethnic studies ban, and the recent protests at TUSD headquarters.

"The children tirelessly chanted, 'Our education is under attack, what do we do, fight back,'" Soto told graduates on Friday.

Soto's colleagues at the university point out that commencement speeches are often controversial and they say that can serve a purpose.

"Commencement speeches are meant to be thoughtful, informed," Laura Briggs, Associate Dean for Social and Behavioral Sciences said. "Universities are meant to shelter free speech and they're meant to invite us to think critically and they're meant to invite us to think critically."

Though some wonder if Soto's timing was right.

"They just kind of felt like their day was stolen from them," Pavlich said.

Here is a link to the speech from Pavlich's YouTube channel.

http://www.youtube.com/user/KatiePavlich