The Tufts Community Union (TCU) Senate plans to offer this year's Light on the Hill award to actor Oliver Platt (LA '83) after "Today Show" co-host Meredith Vieira (A '75) declined the offer.
The Senate chose Platt, a renowned actor who has starred in movies such as "Dr. Doolittle" (1998) and "Lake Placid" (1999), after two professors recommended him for the award, TCU President Neil DiBiase told the Daily.
DiBiase will meet with Tufts' Alumni Association to discuss making the decision official. DiBiase said he hopes to announce the formal invitation next week.
The award is offered once a year to a distinguished alum.
The Senate originally offered the award to Vieira, who could not accept it due to scheduling issues.
"Part of the spirit of the award is to get the alumnus to come back to the campus and share their experiences with the student body," DiBiase said. "One of the conditions is that the recipient has to come back to Tufts."
Vieira, who worked at the television shows "60 Minutes" and "The View" before moving to the "Today Show," has helped Tufts during its ongoing capital campaign, Beyond Boundaries. Most recently, she appeared in a 14-minute video promoting the drive, which is seeking to raise $1.2 billion.
DiBiase said that Vieira could potentially receive the award in future years, when the timing is better.
"Unfortunately, she has an incredibly busy schedule and we couldn't work out a way for her to take time out of her work in New York," he said.
Past recipients of the award include actors Peter Gallagher (A '77) andHank Azaria (LA '85), former NBC News President Neal Shapiro (LA '80) and recent Democratic presidential candidate and New Mexico Governor Bill Richardson (A'70, F'71).
