Every senior looks forward to graduation. After three years of study, those final few terms drift by maddeningly slow, the big day foremost in students’ minds. Gowns are fitted, families arrive in droves and celebration is in the air. Degrees in hand, the graduates stand shoulder to shoulder, drinking in four years of success.
Now that system of commemoration, having worked so well for so many years, is going to be changed.
The University leadership team announced Wednesday that the 2011 spring commencement will be held on June 13, a Monday. Traditionally, commencement is held on a Friday or Saturday, allowing family and friends with busy work schedules to attend without seriously infringing on their 9-to-5. Now, however, sick days will have to be utilized, plane and hotel tickets rebooked, and plans rethought.
All for the sake of progress.
This move isn’t without precedent. Last year graduation was also on a Monday, but for a valid reason: The University and Hayward Field played host to the NCAA Track and Field Championships, which ran from June 9-12. For organizational reasons, graduation was moved to the 14th.
This sparked a string of problems. Students expressed feelings of resentment, claiming that moving the date was a slight. The University drafted letters to various airlines, requesting that the fees charged for rebooking tickets be waived, given the circumstances.
Regardless, the leadership team feels that the change was acceptable and has scheduled the next four commencements on Mondays. In fact, there is some debate as to whether the new setup is even better than the old. University Vice President for Student Affairs Robin Holmes believes the new tradition was successful because the open campus proved to be more welcoming and encouraged the visiting families and new graduates to explore the buildings and museums the University has to offer. Most campus buildings are typically locked on the weekends, denying previous visitors this opportunity.
“We were pleased with the celebratory atmosphere at the 2010 commencement and plan to continue to expand the activities. We are excited to move the date to Monday in the future,” Holmes said in a University press release Wednesday.
More exposure, more people circulating, more publicity. According to Graduation Coordinator Amber Garrison, more than 38,000 people came to campus, and attendance at the main graduation ceremony tripled. In addition, efforts were made to bring a more party-like atmosphere to the entire event. New items on the agenda were the Duck Walk, a parade down 15th Avenue to Hayward Field, and the GradFest, a variety of activities including food vendors, a photo booth, the Duck Store, student performances and a craft center.
In other words, the possible marketing additions offered by having the ceremony on a weekday outweigh the inconveniences students’ families are presented with. This wasn’t a casual change. There was serious thought behind it.
Laurie Wilson, a senior political science major, is looking forward to graduating.
“It means I get to put my education, both inside and outside the classroom, to practice,” Wilson said.
Like many other seniors, she already has travel plans worked out with her family. Her father, stepmother and grandparents are flying in from California, her sister is jetting in from Arizona, and her mother is catching a plane from Arkansas. Needless to say, they’ll be adding a lot of frequent flyer miles. Like any family, they’ve contributed in countless ways to Laurie’s college success. They’ve provided love, a support network and financial assistance. How would she react if any of them ended up missing commencement?
“I’d be absolutely devastated, especially if my grandparents weren’t there,” Wilson said. “The ceremony is not just for myself. I’ve done the work. I know I’ve earned the degree. The ceremony is really for my family. It’s important for them to see that their investment in my future has been worth it, and it’s a right of every parent and grandparent to see their student get the degree.”
In the press release, Holmes acknowledged concerns raised by parents, but she stands by the decision.
“Ultimately the benefits for the overall experience are amplified on a Monday,” Holmes said. “We are communicating the dates now to enable advanced planning for 2011 and beyond.” After all, it’s hard to argue with success.
This may be the best solution for the University, if not for its students. A genuine effort to explore every available option was made, and the resulting change was not made off the cuff. The new system, despite its downsides, is well thought-out and has some obvious perks. Despite that, it leaves a bitter taste in one’s mouth. Once again, the good and the wholesome have been put on a back burner for another profitable scheme.
The University is within its rights to schedule graduation whenever is most convenient for its faculty and other campus staff. But exercising that right at the expense of students and their families is wrong. If this change inconveniences many graduating seniors, the University needs to accommodate those students and return graduation ceremonies to the weekend. Graduation is one of the greatest moments in a young person’s life. Let’s not allow scheduling conflicts to mar that experience.
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