Ouachita Baptist College - Ouachitonian Yearbook (Arkadelphia, AR)

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AFTER IT WAS OVER, Donna McCoy and Amy Tate found that tears were the best way to express their feelings. AS THE BAND PLAYS the last stanza of “The Sinfonians” and the processional comes to an end, the audience stands for the invocation by Dr. Elmer Goble. 18 Student life ™,¥ ° | t rained. Black robes, fears and puddles When rainy skies forced graduation inside, the outcome proved less than disappointing by DeAnna Travis For the first time in years, it rained. When the decision was between a soggy A. U. Williams field and aluminum bleachers with little puddles vs. moving commencement inside Rockerfeller Gym, the choice was dis- appointing, yet obvious. Maintenance crews managed at the last minute to move chairs in and set up sound equipment in an effort to bring the atmosphere traditionally found on the football field inside the gym. At 5 p.m. family and friends crowded close together on the bleachers to make room for even more parents and grandparents. And still people were left standing next to the wall holding babies, reading their pro- grams and occasionally shifting their feet. But as the university band began the processional music, the mood that was created would have been hard to pro- duce in the openness of a football stadium. Emerging from the crowded base- ment the graduates were led by the faculty members — their black robes decorated in colors signifying their de- grees. Through the double row of pro- fessors the seniors entered the gym creating those few moments that would be difficult to recapture — those moments when students looked into their teachers faces with -a new perspective. The teachers had not only watched their students grow academically — but had watched their personalities THE FEELING CANNOT BE RE- PLACED. On May 9, as the 1981 class entered the gym, the closeness between professors and students was evident. mature. Many had extended relation- ships beyond the classroom to help with personal problems, take class trips or sponsor student organizations. fessors that had particularly meant a great deal to them — both smiled or winked or nodded. The closeness was © obvious. Steve Patterson said, “‘was walking through that line. You could sense the teachers’s feeling — that they were ™ proud of you.” Brian Burton and speeches by Kevin Crass and Mrs. Margaret Wright, family and friends scanned through the pro- gram to spot the name on the list of 260 that was the only one that really mat- tered. dered what a graduate felt when he finally shook the president's hand and it ended. Was it sadness? ‘“On the con- trary,’ Steve said, ‘‘that had to be one of the happiest moments.”’ was sung, followed by the processio of “Pomp and Circumstance.” clutched their diplomas and stepped over puddles to hug parents and friends. The emotions of the moment were many — joy, relief and a sen4 tamentalism that was hard to hide. the crowd of black robes, tears andj! puddles, but one thing was certain, it had quit raining. [ ] THE EXPRESSION said it all — it was} over with. Eric Bremmer and Tom Harris) congratulate one another outside. - But when the seniors passed by pro- “The most emotional part for me,” After remarks by class president : From the bleachers, a person won- Everyone stood. The alma mater Finally outside, the class membe For some reason it was hard to leave |

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