A Knox College alum will be back on campus this weekend receiving another degree from his alma mater, after a potentially harrowing experience several months ago while working as a reporter.

Knox College President Roger Taylor says 1971 Knox grad Barry Bearak will be one of the honorary degree recipients at this year's commencement ceremony Saturday.

Taylor tells WGIL the New York Times reporter stationed currently in South Africa, has been on the schedule to be at commencement for a long time, but almost didn't make it. "He went into Zimbabwe (a few months ago) to cover the elections, and was arrested for suposedly not having proper credentials," Taylor said. "He was in jail for awhile. He's out now, so he'll be here."

Bearak is Co-Bureau Chief of the New York Times' Johannesburg, South Africa Bureau. The newspaper reports Bearak was imprisoned for several days in April in the Zimbabwe capital of Harare after being arrested for, in his words, committing the act of journalism. He was released after bail was posted.

Knox's Commencement Speaker, former Secretary of State Madeline Albright, and American Association for the Advancement of Science CEO will also receive honorary degrees.

You can hear the Knox College commencement ceremonies live Saturday morning starting just after ten o'clock on Galesburg Radio 14 WGIL.

Barry Bearak (photo courtesy Knox College)

Alan Leshner (photo courtesy Knox College)