Hempstead, NY Vol.78 | Issue 5
The Hofstra
Chronicle
Thursday
October 11, 2012
Keeping the Hofstra Community informed since 1935
United we stood, divided we will finish StAff Writer
Hofstra University has broken tradition and changed the way it will host the class of 2013’s Commencement Ceremony. An occasion that is usually held in James M. Stuart Stadium was moved indoors to the David S. Mack exhibition and Sports Complex, and graduates’ guests are now limited. Not all students are pleased. Seniors such as Quin Patterson, a community health major with a
large extended family, face the new pressure of having to decide whom to invite. “No one wants to tell their grandparents or stepparents they can’t physically see you graduate,” Patterson said. the decision to change the event’s structure was made this summer by University officials. After much deliberation, officials decided to change the venue due to constant concerns with the weather. each year, Hofstra is put into a scramble to prepare during graduation season. this takes months of planning, weeks of execution and, most importantly, a perfect
day for those who walk across the stage. Unfortunately, of the past six graduations that Hofstra has hosted, there has only been one “perfect” day. the rest of these graduations saw rain, freezing cold or unbearable heat; and bad weather makes graduation less than enjoyable. “We started to explore our options for indoor space,” said Sandra Johnson, vice president of Student Affairs. Johnson noted that the University considered Nassau Coliseum as an option. However, after further analysis, the Coliseum’s condition and offcampus location eliminated it from consideration.
“We just didn’t think that [the Coliseum] would have the right feel,” said Johnson. Instead, officials looked into other on-campus options and ultimately decided that if graduation was split into two separate sections, it could be hosted in the Sports and exhibition Complex and all weather concerns would be eliminated. But to do this, Hofstra was forced to limit the amount of tickets to five per graduate. After each of the ceremonies a reception will be hosted for the graduates, friends and families, where students who were separated by their graduation ceremonies can reunite. the location of this spring’s reception has yet to
be determined. the University believes that this year’s new atmosphere will be made even more special by decorating the Mack Sports Complex. “the complex can be made to be a very festive place,” said Johnson. One idea was for the University to set up special “photo booths,” complete with life-size backdrops of locations around Hofstra for graduates to take photos in. University officials do realize that some students are upset over the limited seating at the ceremony and they are looking into ways to maximize seating in the Complex. Officials believe, however, that there will be extra
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Photo courtesy of Nexus Designed by Jenny Hart and Ben Suazo
By Andrew Wroblewski