Maier: Graduation ceremony less important than diploma

by Allison Maier | March 4, 2010 | Montana Kaimin

I must admit that a small, devilish part of me is hoping for rain on May 15.

Because the only thing more entertaining than the thought of the University of Montana importing thousands of chairs from Salt Lake City and Spokane for commencement this spring is the thought of said chairs sitting empty in a mid-spring downpour on the Oval.

It’s slightly ridiculous to schedule an outdoor ceremony with no contingency plan for a time in Missoula when it can be snowing one minute and blindingly sunny the next, and it’s absurd to spend money renting chairs from neighboring cities when venues like the Adams Center and Washington-Grizzly stadium are readily available. Especially since the administration’s only real motivation for doing so seems to be that it wants a pretty backdrop for the festivities.

But even when a university isn’t making vague statements about plans for an unprecedented outdoor commencement ceremony, the hoopla surrounding graduation seems to always border on the absurd anyway. 

Graduations, like weddings and proms, often cause normally rational people to get caught up in the tireless details associated with expectation and tradition.

People complain about boring commencement speakers, like last year’s very dry Craig Barrett, the chairman of Intel, and criticize the University for not bringing in anybody more dynamic. Parents like mine instruct their children to purchase overpriced packs of graduation announcements and every honors cord they can convince people they qualify for, in addition to the essential cap, gown and tassel. Everyone makes party or dinner arrangements, but usually not before a lot of discussion and stress.

It’s true that graduating from college is a big deal. It’s something only 38 percent of the United States population between the ages of 25 and 35 has accomplished. It opens up a vast range of career opportunities that wouldn’t be available otherwise. It (hopefully) signals the end of all-night study sessions and horrendous eating habits. It’s something that nobody can take away; it’s part of a person’s identity.

For those reasons, the day somebody graduates is an exciting day. It would be exciting even without elaborate ceremonies — be they indoors or outdoors — or weird hats. Those material aspects of commencement seem important because they have been around for so long, but they’re really not necessary. Students work hard and lose sleep because they want a diploma, not because they hope to someday listen to what will likely be a boring lecture delivered on the Oval. 

It’s important for the University — and students and parents — to have some perspective. Spending time and money in an attempt to make one day perfect (or at least ideal for photos) is nowhere near as important as everything that made the years leading up to that day significant.

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