2008 Woodie Awards
Students split on commencement attendance
J. Breen Mitchell, Reporter
Issue date: 5/1/08 Section: Graduation
Each year, approximately 80 percent of YSU's graduating class attends commencement ceremonies, according to Debbie Garchar, associate director of records. YSU's list of information about commencement for graduating seniors available on the YSU website, says that all graduates are expected to attend commencement ceremonies, but diplomas can be mailed to those who do not attend.
Last year, 1,008 graduates were invited to commencement, and of that number, 770 attended, according to Grant Springer, Manager of Events and Space Utilization. Springer said that these numbers were typical, with about 1,000 graduates being invited and close to 800 attending.
Students give different reasons for why they will or will not attend upcoming graduation ceremonies.
"My parents are making me," said Emilie Kiko.
Kiko said that she has siblings who walked across the stage, and that she doesn't want to be the only one not to. She said that she thinks that most graduates will attend commencement, saying that while a lot of studentsmay not feel like they want to attend because of length, when the time comes, they ultimately will.
Others agreed that they felt attending commencement was an obvious choice.
"My own commencement? Yeah," said Jennifer Terry, who will graduatein December.
Terry also said that her parents want her to attend.
Family was the reason given by Tim Gordon for attending as well. Gordon said he would attend "so my kids can see me graduate."
While most students do plan to attend commencement, not everyone was committed to the idea.
"No, because I hate this school," said Christopher Gould, who will graduate this summer.
Gould said that he was unhappy with the university after taking classes which he said he didn't need because advisors told him to.
Gould said that taking these were a waste of his time and money, and that was why he does not plan to attend his commencement ceremony.
Last year, 1,008 graduates were invited to commencement, and of that number, 770 attended, according to Grant Springer, Manager of Events and Space Utilization. Springer said that these numbers were typical, with about 1,000 graduates being invited and close to 800 attending.
Students give different reasons for why they will or will not attend upcoming graduation ceremonies.
"My parents are making me," said Emilie Kiko.
Kiko said that she has siblings who walked across the stage, and that she doesn't want to be the only one not to. She said that she thinks that most graduates will attend commencement, saying that while a lot of studentsmay not feel like they want to attend because of length, when the time comes, they ultimately will.
Others agreed that they felt attending commencement was an obvious choice.
"My own commencement? Yeah," said Jennifer Terry, who will graduatein December.
Terry also said that her parents want her to attend.
Family was the reason given by Tim Gordon for attending as well. Gordon said he would attend "so my kids can see me graduate."
While most students do plan to attend commencement, not everyone was committed to the idea.
"No, because I hate this school," said Christopher Gould, who will graduate this summer.
Gould said that he was unhappy with the university after taking classes which he said he didn't need because advisors told him to.
Gould said that taking these were a waste of his time and money, and that was why he does not plan to attend his commencement ceremony.
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