Opinions & Editorials • 3
why nonie creme is the ideal commencement speaker for 2014
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Photos courtsey of beautyhigh.com and noniecreme.com
Ann Kirkpatrick ’14 Guest Contributor
W
hen I read the announcement that Nonie Creme (’94) would be returning to Scripps to speak at Commencement for the class of 2014, I was giddy with excitement. I’m a die-hard fan of nail polish and nail art; although Butter London polishes are out of my price range, I know the brand for its quality and creativity. While Ms. Creme was invited to speak by the Scripps administration rather than nominated by the senior class, her name ought to have come up earlier. If I had known that the former creative co-founder of a high-profile company was a Scripps alumna, I would have written her name alongside Terry Gross’s in my list of dream speakers. Here’s why: 1. She’s an Art major with a successful business career. In 1994, Nonie Creme graduated Scripps with a BA in Art History and Fine Arts and moved to London to pursue a career in fashion. In 2005, she co-founded Butter London, the popular and successful nail polish brand, and now she’s founding
another cosmetics company, Colour Prevails. Liberal arts majors know what it’s like to be the butt of jokes, and we know the crushing anxiety of knowing that our majors aren’t in as much demand as STEM majors in the current job market. For those of us with uncertain futures, it’s inspiring to see a fellow lover of the humanities make a name for herself as well as a decent living. 2. She has made significant improvements in her industry. Nonie Creme has made positive change from the inside by creating a nail polish brand that is “3 Free.” In other words, Butter London bans the use of the toxic chemicals formaldehyde (a carcinogen), toluene (a lung irritant), and DBP (which can cause reproductive harm). Eliminating these ingredients benefits salon workers and consumers alike. In a recent article in the Student Life, some students expressed disappointment that 2014’s speaker hails from the world of fashion, which has a long history of being problematic on many levels. However, the worlds
March 6, 2014 • The Scripps Voice • Volume XVII • Issue Nine
of politics and mass media have their share of issues, and there were plenty of politicians and celebrities nominated for 2014’s commencement speaker. What we need is more strong-willed Scripps alumnae, like Nonie Creme, working for positive change whether they’re in Congress or on the runway. 3. She loves Scripps enough to speak for free. Aside from a travel stipend, Scripps College does not compensate its commencement speakers, which can be an obstacle in attracting speakers without a personal connection to the school. Scheduling can also be an issue, especially if they live far away. For example, Terry Gross is speaking at Bryn Mawr this year, likely because it’s just outside of Philadelphia, where she lives and works on NPR’s Fresh Air on WHYY Philadelphia. Because Nonie Creme is donating her time as well as her ideas, she has got to be pretty psyched to be invited to speak at 2014’s Commencement. We ought to be equally psyched to hear what she has to say.