I would like to respond to the reader who asked why graduation is being held on campus. As one who has been here a while, I’d like to pass along to that reader what I see as the real reason. Our alma mater cares about impressing dignitaries and politicians, but does not care about impressing the students, the alumni, or the parents. Is this not the reason why alumni giving rates are so low!?

In May of 1998, the last planned Field House graduation was held. Doctoral candidates had throw-away robes like everyone else, and it was horribly hot and humid. It was pretty much the same as in May of 1997. What changed?  Well, if you were here, you recall that the class of 1998 wanted to invite William Jefferson Clinton to speak at graduation. The invitation was issued. Clinton’s response was, “Let me get back to you on that....” So, in response, just in case he said yes, the Field House venue was abandoned immediately, and Pepsi Arena was booked for the event. A mace was designed for our school, a new medallion for the President, and enough high-quality, expensive Ph.D. gowns were purchased for all the Ph.D. graduates. The Board of Trustees’ gowns, of course, had to be redesigned so as not to be confused with the mere graduates. Then Clinton said “Sorry, I can’t come,”—Bill Nye, a much more entertaining and memorable speaker, in my humble opinion, spoke to an adoring crowd, and our school did not ever again make mention of the real reason graduation was moved. Everyone loved the new location! It was so convenient!

But after three successful years, with alumni and families happy with the graduation, it was moved back.Why? Because families are not important. The people who paid $130,000 or more to send their children here are not important. Neither are the students who put four years of their youth into this institution. The message is loud and clear, regardless of who is our school president. A tearful mother on TV had every right to be outraged. Bill Clinton was more important than she was to our school. This is not right.

I plan to march next May. If my alma mater will show us that we and our families are actually as important as politicians, I promise to give every year to my school fund-drive. So far, I have not been convinced.

Donna Dietz