James Madison University - Bluestone Schoolmaam Yearbook (Harrisonburg, VA)

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, 2003 Huddled under umbrellas, the College of Education attempts to stay dry dunng the rainy graduation. The diploma ceremonies were divided by school and unfortu- nately not all of the ceremonies could be held inside, jPhofo by Morgan Riehl it can rain but they will shine Nicole Maier Graduation marks a dav of achievement and signifies the point when students step out into a world of opportunit) ' , only this time they should have brought their umbrellas. On May 10 threats of severe thunderstorms hung in the air during the main commencement ceremony held in Bridgeforth Stadium. The rain held off through former U.S. Senator George Mitchells address to the class of 2003 and awarding of degrees. Yet, the storm would not wait tor long. It was when the colleges began their separate ceremonies, where students were to be recognized individually, that campus police informed them of a change in plans. Due to severe rain and lightning in the area, all outdoor ceremonies were cancelled. The College of Arts and Letters, College of Education and College of Integrated Science and Technology were forced to postpone. This was done in the best interest of the safety of all in attendance, said Dr. Arthur Benson, dean of integrated science and technology. Both the College of Business and the College of Science and Mathematics were able to continue their indoor ceremonies. 19 graduation

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graduation 20 The RAIN, lightning ations made this graduation hard to forget. The cancelled ceremonies were soon rescheduled for June 7, in the Convocation Center. Rescheduling of the ceremony was initiated out of the President ' s office at his request. He was responding to the many correspondences relating disappoint- ment at not being able to complete the ceremony, said Benson. According to an article posted by University Communications on the University website, President Rose said that this date was best in terms of the availability of campus facilities and area hotels. At the ceremony Rose and others made brief statements to the audience. Then the graduates were given the chance to walk across the stage and shake the hands of President Rose and the dean of his or her college. The chance for a student to be acknowledged in front of friends and family was significant to many. I feel that graduat- ing students feel it is important to receive individual recognition during the graduation ceremony. This can only be achieved at subgroups at least a.s small as, if not smaller, than the college unit, said Benson. Recent graduate and former international affairs major, Jose Gonzalez, was one of the lucky students to be able to walk before his ceremony was called to a close. I think it is very important for students to walk. After all, it is the most impor- tant part of the ceremony. Many students, myself included, had friends and family travel great distances for graduation, and many were upset to not see their graduate walk, he said. Gonzalez suggested that the administration should have had an alternative plan for the original graduation day instead of rescheduling the event. It would have been better to have scheduled the different graduation ceremonies throughout the day at the Convocation Center so that everyone would have a chance to walk, said Gonzalez. I know of other schools that do their graduation all throughout the same day with different ceremonies at different times so that they are all indoors and avoid any weather problems, he added. Graduation was considered an important milestone in many of the graduates ' lives. It marks the end of one academic experi- ence. But, more importantly commencement points to the future and new opportunities and challenges. It is not an ending but is better thought of as a new beginning, said Dr. Richard Whitman, dean of College of Arts and Letters. Dianna Schwartz, a recent graduate and history major had her own comment about graduation. It ' s like a double-edged sword, it ' s the end of something incredible, more amazing than you ever thought four years of your life could be, but its also the beginning of new lives, ones that you know will be great because ofwhat JMU has instilled in ;ill of us. Cjtaduation was a day that most students will remember tor years to come. As Benson said, closing of the outside college ceremonies made it noteworthy. Ihc rain, lightning and cancellations made this graduation hard to forget. features