UAM Graduation Friday
Published by UAM News May 5th, 2008 in UAM News.The University of Arkansas at Monticello will present degrees to the class of 2008 at commencement exercises this Friday (May 9) at 9:30 a.m. at Convoy Leslie Cotton Boll Stadium.
Due to construction at the stadium, spectators will be seated in the east grandstands for the event. Platform guests scheduled to speak include James E. “Jim” Lindsey, chairman of the University of Arkansas Board of Trustees, UA System President B. Alan Sugg, and UAM Chancellor Jack Lassiter.
White Hall businessman Gerald Majors will be honored as UAM’s 47th Distinguished Alumnus.
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Why on Earth does UAM schedule its graduation at 9 am on Friday morning? The Fayetteville campus graduates on a Saturday. UAPB graduates on a Saturday. Arkansas Tech graduates on a Saturday — and they do it indoors. The same is true for UALR.
Holding commencement at 9 a.m. on a weekday prevents many family members from attending the ceremony — not to mention some of the very graduates the ceremony is supposed to honor. Additionally, a daytime ceremony held outdoors in the middle of May in Arkansas makes little sense, either.
It’s time UAM break commencement up among colleges & divisions, move it to the air-conditioned indoors and host it on a weekend when extended family can attend and make it the important milestone it is supposed to be for all involved.
I couldn’t agree more Drew. UAM says that they don’t want to interfere with other graduation ceremonies, so they have theirs in the sweltering heat of the day. And they’ve gone to black robes, which will attract heat. Black isn’t even a school color, but has made it’s way into UAM’s athletics teams & graduation. The logic behind the black robes is that they look more “distinguished” than the true school color of kelly green. I was more than proud to adorm my green robe when I walked & disagree with the logic UAM has used on a lot of recent decisions.
I graduated from UAM last Friday. Yes, it was early. Yes, it was somewhat hot (especially to my parents, who came from Michigan to see this special moment for me.) But I was proud — as were so many of the students.
But to address the comments that I see posted — first, the time and location. While 9:30 may be quite early (we graduates had to be there at 8:30) even I — a notorius night owl, made sure I was there. The early time helps to alleviate the heat.
As for it being Friday morning — while I might have liked Saturday as well, it really was not an issue for me — or for most of the graduates, I feel confident in saying. Remember that we attend classes ranging from 8 am to evening hours in our academics; in addition, we had just finished final exams the wednesday before graduation. It is illogical to assume that we could make it to these classes, but not to our graduation!
And while the weekday might have been a little more inconvenient for some friends and family, surely when it comes to a once in a lifetime event such as graduation, attending on a weekday is not much of a problem. Consider if there was a death in the family and the funeral was friday — can you see the parallel?
The robes — Why quibble over the robes? Many, many colleges use black robes as well, since it is a traditional color– see the following article for traditions in college robes, hoods, and ceremonies.(http://www.acenet.edu/AM/Template.cfm?Section=Search&template=/CM/HTMLDisplay.cfm&ContentID=10625#Gowns) and I feel confident in saying that I represent a large portion of the graduates who were proud of our black robes!
Inside ceremonies? I was sooo glad it was outdoors — in view of the campus I have come to love for the last five years. Additionally, there is not room indoors, unless the students were broken up into divisions, such as nursing, social and behavioral sciences, education, etc. Only then would there be seating enough to welcome any who wished to attend. BUT, we attended college as a group — and we graduated as a group — and UAM made a wise decision here as well.
For good or bad, UAM is a small, hometown style college. I attended the ASPS Psychology symposium at Jonesboro (ASU) last month, and I feel I can appreciate and recognize the strengths and weaknesses of both the larger and smaller universities. To graduate as a group, wearing our black robes, in the outside stadium, is representative of the flavor of the small campus where most of us knew each other — and cared about each other — and I for one would want it no other way.
Of course, someone always wants to complain. At least it gives them some pleasure. But I, for one, found nothing to criticize UAM for. THe gowns were the most apropriate possible, the location excellent, the time wise in consideration of the heat, and the traditions — especially the walk of achievement — humbling and touching.
If, however, we wish to complain — let’s talk about campus parking!!!