Dear Editor,I want to issue an apology to anyone who feels that the university’s policy to allow (some) summer grads to participate in May’s commencement diminishes the accomplishments of spring graduates.
I assure you that my request and those requests made by other summer graduates to attend May’s commencement were in no way intended to diminish anyone’s accomplishments. In fact, I empathize with your concerns.
You see, my graduation is also being diminished. I am being forced to travel up to 5,000 miles to celebrate something that I will have accomplished four months prior. Tell me that doesn’t put a damper on the celebration and diminish my achievements.
I, too, think it is absurd that summer grads are allowed to celebrate early. However, I think it’s doubly absurd that we are forced to return in December.
No matter when summer grads celebrate, whether in May or December, it will be a moot point.They will have either moved on or not finished.
This is a systemic problem that calls for a simple solution: a summer ceremony. If anyone can give me rational explanation as to why this solution has not been considered valid enough to institute, please let me know.
But don’t tell me the money’s short: The bell tower proves that’s false. And don’t feed me the line, “rules are rules.”If rules were permanent, we’d have no use for reformers, revolutionaries or even political lobbyists.The “real world” thrives on change, and this university is in dire need of it.
As for the six-credit rule, it is not only arbitrary, but wholly unnecessary. Institute a summer ceremony and eliminate the bureaucratic hassle. I don’t want my accomplishments diminished anymore than anyone else does.
President Stanton, this is our right as students. Please realize that and do the right thing. Thanks.

Brad Harris

P.S. Robert Sherman was right when he said, “Until the student body wakes up and becomes more activist, things will remain as they are.” If you are graduating in the summer and want the ceremony that is your right, let’s organize. My e-mail is zbeh5@imail.etsu.edu.

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