DFW HOYA
Platinum Hoya (over 5000 posts)
Posts: 5,778
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Post by DFW HOYA on May 2, 2004 16:43:35 GMT -5
15,000? Pardon my French, but that's a University crock.
My class (1984) graduated on Healy Lawn. It can be done and it was for decades. You could also put it in the Multi-Sport or even a renovated McDonough (that's another topic), but the class should graduate as they arrived...together.
Quick story: the 1983 ceremony was rained out and schools graduated separately, to some consternation, in a non-air conditioned McDonough Gym. As the Class of 1984 marched in and were seated, a light rain started, and the people on the stage made a move for the Healy portico, sensing everyone would get up and move to McDonough. Someone behind us yelled: "No! We're staying right here!" and everyone did. (Parents too.)
The rain lasted all of about 45 seconds, the Jesuits returned to the podium (to applause), and the ceremony continued. We wouldn't have had it any other way.
Today's students are far too accomodating of buying into the University PR line that separate ceremonies are essential, which ignores the fact that commencements were held on the Lawn for decades, no matter the speaker. Ironically, when GU canned the unified commencement in 1987, they cited the opportunity to get "bigger-name" speakers to come to smaller groups. Obviously, that was a lot of hot air, too.
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Post by dairishhoya on May 2, 2004 16:56:56 GMT -5
DFW--feel free to come to campus and talk with the folks (the ones actually closer to Healy) who are in the trenches and are trying to get some of the things done that you seem to be pushing for instead of digitally poking at them. Its pretty easy to ignore reality and assume that you're the only one concerned with making GU a better place ....
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DFW HOYA
Platinum Hoya (over 5000 posts)
Posts: 5,778
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Post by DFW HOYA on May 2, 2004 17:12:35 GMT -5
DFW--feel free to come to campus and talk with the folks (the ones actually closer to Healy) who are in the trenches and are trying to get some of the things done that you seem to be pushing for instead of digitally poking at them. Its pretty easy to ignore reality and assume that you're the only one concerned with making GU a better place .... Thank you for the offer. I've talked with many of these people before and will do so in the near future. And while there are some people sincerely interested in moving issues like this forward, there are also those who value the status quo and do not want a unified commencement for the exposure to so-called "bad PR". It's the same attitude that does not want Alumni Leadership Weekend and Homecoming together because it might give alumni "the wrong ideas" about students, as someone at OAUR once told me. Onward and upward.
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Post by dairishhoya on May 2, 2004 17:25:55 GMT -5
Well, we all know OAUR is out-of-touch, lacks leadership and doesn't really understand the value of alumni.
Actually, a unified commencement is better PR and people realize that -- its easier to get a big name and its easier to promote ... unfortunately, the struggle between the colleges and the lack of adequate facilities undermines this option.
A note on facilities ... let's look at the smallest of ceremonies last year, SNHS. They had around 65 graduates and filled Gaston Hall -- slightly over 700 seats and that wasn't enough. Yes, their speaker was the First Lady, but that's what the university has to plan for. Nobody wants parents yelling at commencement that they're unable to see their child or have their entire family attend after spending $100,000 on GU ... because at the end of the day you never know how much $$$ they may donate to their alma mater. Its more complicated then some people think (not directed at you, DFW) ....
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Jack
Diamond Hoya (over 2500 posts)
Posts: 3,411
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Post by Jack on May 3, 2004 7:58:17 GMT -5
Yo Jack, I am a current English/Government major, What the hell do you do with that, because I have i year left and no clue. You go to law school, of course. However, you don't necessarily go right away, and I suppose some people don't go at all, although I don't know any of them. Seriously, if you want more of my "wisdom" gained from my experience and that of my friends with similar majors, send me a private message and tell me a little bit more about your interests, and I will see what I can tell you.
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SFHoya99
Blue & Gray (over 10,000 posts)
Posts: 17,791
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Post by SFHoya99 on May 3, 2004 10:46:10 GMT -5
Not all school, but all four undergraduate schools. With about 1600 in a graduating class, I would think any convocation center GU is contemplating could handle that crowd. No way. 2000 students and faculty. I grew up in San Diego and had four people come. I had a local friend with twelve. A 7,000 person center could only accomodate roughly three people per graduate.
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Post by HoyaLawya on May 3, 2004 12:21:12 GMT -5
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Post by ImissHoyaParanoia on May 3, 2004 16:13:52 GMT -5
Has anyone heard who the commencement speakers are this year?
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