The alternative graduation gave students, their friends and families a place to celebrate away from Vice President Dick Cheney, who gave the commencement address at the BYU ceremony.

In an hourlong address that lambasted the current state of American politics and rarely touched on graduation, Ralph Nader encouraged graduates and more than a thousand supporters to seek a higher road and not be enticed by trivial or material promises.

Prior to his speech, the former third-party presidential candidate discouraged students from using computer science degrees to develop "silly or violent video games" and warned against becoming physicists or chemists to make chemical, biological or other weapons for munitions corporations.

In addition to sharply criticizing the current administration, Nader praised students for the moral courage required to stand up for a cause that was unpopular in their area.

"In a free society, it shouldn't take a demonstration of courage in order to utter a statement of conscience or truth," Nader said.

And in a ceremony that opened and closed with prayer, Nader pointed out that dissent was part of the foundation of the LDS Church.

"In the history of human beings, all common ascent . . . started with dissent," he said. "Let's not marginalize dissent. Dissent is the fountainhead of justice."

About 25 organizers put together the alternative ceremony. Eric Bybee, who graduated Thursday, said 24 venues turned them down before they raised $26,000 to book the McKay Events Center.

Reem Yahia, an international graduate from Palestine, said her family traveled to see her graduate, but she left the general commencement early so Cheney "wouldn't spoil" her experience, and came to see Nader.

Melissa Paredes, a graduate from the international relations program, said she was shocked Cheney was selected to speak. She came to see Nader because she wanted to "be inspired rather than hear controversy."

"Cheney is not someone who I feel like I should look up to," she said.

Joey Franklin, who graduated with a degree in English, said he came to the alternative ceremony because he wanted a more pertinent message than the typically commencement rhetoric.

"This was an opportunity to hear ideas essential to the future of the country, not just for me as a graduate to feel good," he said. Nader "didn't just give us a pat on the back, he gave us a kick in the butt."

sgehrke@sltrib.com

rorellana@sltrib.com