Danielle Bibbs (The Beacon)
By Danielle Bibbs, Guest Commentary
While I sympathize with the March 1 editorial's concern for graduation venues and accommodating for families, I find it a little unnerving that they would suggest that every college have their own separate graduation so students wouldn't have to endure a three-hour ceremony and watch 600 students graduate.
If this hypothetical situation was to take place, I'd be devastated. While I can imagine the pain and torture of dealing with 600 students and their families, I can't imagine graduating without the entire class of 2012. I have made more than enough friends within my own major, but I have made even more friends out of it.
I coexist with nursing students and every ROTC student on campus and I don't get to see them graduate because I'm a communication major and they majored in business or education? Think about housemates, friends from clubs and friends from your hometown. I have been with some of these people for four wonderful years. Every student, including transfers and non-traditional students, have a special place in my heart. I'd rather not leave UP without them.
Aside from my nostalgic tendencies, separation of students by our colleges would cause more problems than solve the issue with the space of our graduation venue. Take a moment to think about all of your friends who are double majors. Would they need their own ceremony too? Would they have to attend two ceremonies? While we're at it, how about we separate people by the degree they are getting too! That way we won't have to watch our graduate students get their degrees. Who cares about celebrating someone's academic success?
Now before you go all crazy and respond to this thinking that I'm crazy (except I am), I will agree that this five ticket limit is harsh. While space is limited in Chiles, we have to remember our families and friends are the people who we want to watch us graduate. While it may be too late to better provide for the graduating class of 2012, I hope the school can brainstorm something better.
If it were up me, I'd definitely move the location. While the idea of having graduation on campus is symbolic of our beginning and ending (from orientation to graduation) of our academic journey, the school has got to keep up with the student population. Remember, when you force people into "extended doubles" they are going to want to bring their families to their graduation.
