The spring commencement is over five months away, but plans for changing the event’s location and time are underway. Weather permitting, graduation will take place outside in front of Cone-Bottoms at 9:30 a.m. on May 10, 2008. The spring commencement is usually held in SPEC.
Yesterday at noon students had the opportunity to attend a forum in Young Auditorium in Hickingbotham Hall about these changes being made to the spring commencement. Student Senate organized the forum so that students could raise any questions or concerns they might have about next semester’s commencement.
Phil Hardin, assistant to the president for administration, explained the reasons behind the change of setting and time. Hardin said that President Dr. Rex Horne had suggested that commencement be held on the grounds of the university, especially to take advantage of the beautiful setting during spring.
“[Horne] asked me to go out and look to see if there were any venues where we could stage commencement,” Hardin said. “We wanted to consider an option that would be more memorable.”
According to Hardin, John Hardman, director of Ouachita’s physical plant, had the idea of having the spring commencement on the front lawn of Cone-Bottoms. Hardin pointed out that Cone-Bottoms has a “strong college look about it” and is surrounded by beautiful landscaping.
“A stage is being built to come out from the stairs in front of Cone-Bottoms,” said
registrar Judy Jones, who also explained the details and logistics of commencement.
The platform will also be designed with a ramp. By using portable risers and folding chairs, Hardman estimates that a maximum of 4,000 people can be seated between Cone-Bottoms and JPAC. Hardman’s diagram of the area indicates that everyone should fit with no trouble. Hardin anticipates a crowd of over 2,000 people in May.
“There will be banks of folding chairs on the lawn so trees [will] not block views,” Hardin said.
A large number of chairs will fit on the lawn, and the street and some of the sidewalk will be used. They also plan to accommodate people who have trouble walking.
According to Hardin, graduation will be at 9:30 a.m. for “optimum temperature conditions and to allow people time to get there.” A reception with light food will take place in the Flag Plaza. If it rains that day, the ceremony will be moved to SPEC and the reception will be in the Commons.
“I want to assure you, we had all the questions you have,” Jones said to the students at yesterday’s forum.
Jones welcomes any suggestions students may have about spring commencement. For instance, Monica Wood, senior class president, recently suggested to Jones that the seniors line up in Walker Conference Center prior to the ceremony.
Hardin realizes that there are some trade-offs in moving the spring commencement outside and that the class of 2008 will be setting a new tradition.
“It would be a different kind of experience than before,” Hardin said.
