Since they arrived back at Loyola in August, some students have been buzzing about rumors that graduation will be moved off campus. Now they say they have made some progress in keeping the ceremonies on St. Charles Avenue.
Since university administrators began talking to SGA about the move, the Rev. Kevin Wildes, S.J., university president, has shifted to working toward a compromise, according to Bob Payne, political science junior and SGA vice president.
“After months of talking, Father Wildes is considering that students feel strongly about keeping graduation on-campus, and the e-mails that he and Dr. Petty receive from students are honestly making a difference.”
According to rumors, commencement exercises will take place in the New Orleans Arena instead of the Horseshoe beginning this May. But Payne said the issue of graduating off-campus is nothing new.
“SGA has been meeting with Father Wildes about moving graduation since this summer,” said Payne. “Father Wildes’ concern is the weather and having to move to a rain site that can’t accommodate everyone.”
With frequent weather changes in New Orleans, a rain site is vital. Since graduation was moved on-campus in 2000, two “break out” ceremonies have been held in the Rec Plex due to inclement weather, said Cissy Petty, vice president for student affairs.
“Initially, I was in favor of having graduation at the Horseshoe. I agree that it is a beautiful space and I could imagine that it holds so much tradition and meaning for students,” Petty said. “What eventually convinced me that we needed a good alternative was the disappointment families have faced not getting to see graduation when it rained. The Rec Plex could not hold entire families, and many members (who had driven or flown from afar) were watching graduation on monitors.”
Wildes could not be reached for comment by press time Wednesday, but a source from his office said that no decisions have been made.
Gene Hernandez, sociology senior, who created a Facebook group to protest the move off campus, said he is dissatisfied with university administration and its reaction to students’ anger and disappointment regarding the issue.
“The (Facebook) group was created to not only help organize the students that are against the moving of graduation off campus, but also to serve as an informant to those students that didn’t know that this decision was even being considered,” Hernandez said. “As I have come to learn in my four years at Loyola, those affected most by the decisions of the Board and president are usually those last to find out about them.”
The Facebook group, “Seniors against graduating off campus,” has grown to encompass 531 Loyola students since its creation on Nov. 2. It includes updates on the issue, e-mail addresses for Wildes and Petty, and a discussion board filled with ideas and comments from concerned students. The group is open to all students.
Kelly Roth can be reached at [email protected].
Graduating seniors applaud during the ceremony last year.
