By: Stacey Axler<\/p>\n
The senior class will graduate in the new arena of the recently opened Hodson Gym and Fitness Center Building, according to President Ronald Volpe.<\/p>\n
\u201cThe provost recently invited all the senior officers to talk about and discuss what should be part of the commencement program for this year, and the decision was made to hold commencement in the new arena,\u201d Volpe said.<\/p>\n
The president said that the details and logistics of holding the ceremony in the arena are still being worked out.<\/p>\n
The administration will be meeting with the student officers of the senior class in the first weeks of the semester to discuss the new location.<\/p>\n
The shift in graduation location interests many seniors graduating this year, as it is a change from the traditional method of walking through the pergola and graduating outdoors.<\/p>\n
Some seniors would prefer to graduate in the traditional method, because passing through the pergola is a longstanding symbol of completing the journey through Hood College.<\/p>\n
\u201cI would prefer to graduate outdoors rather than the new gym,\u201d senior Erin Buchanan said. \u201cOne of the first things that I loved about Hood was the traditions.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cI love the tradition of walking the path that we take for convocation for graduation as well,\u201d Buchanan continued. \u201cI feel that it really commemorates when we entered as first year students, and are now leaving as college graduates. I would never want to lose that.\u201d<\/p>\n
Fellow senior Kasey Smith agreed.<\/p>\n
\u201cIf I graduated in the new gym, I feel that I would be missing out,\u201d she said. \u201cThe tradition of graduating on the quad and walking through the pergola is a tradition that holds so much meaning. We walked through it before our first convocation welcoming us to Hood \u2013 we should be able to say our farewell to Hood the same way.\u201d<\/p>\n
But some seniors are excited about the change in graduation location.<\/p>\n
\u201cI would rather graduate in the new gym in case the weather is bad and the ground is muddy and such.,\u201d senior Elizabeth Orrence said. \u201cPlus, it would just be fun to be the first class to graduate in the brand new building.\u201d<\/p>\n
Volpe said that he had spoken to a number of students who had expressed opinions about graduating in the athletic center. He said that the new location does not exclude the possibility of walking through the pergola.<\/p>\n
Noting that Hood\u2019s graduation has been held in different locations over the years, Volpe called this year\u2019s plan was \u201can experiment.\u201d<\/p>\n
Still, some students feel like the senior class should have had a say in where graduation is held.<\/p>\n
\u201cI would want it the traditional way outside,\u201d Doug Raftery, senior and president of Student Government Association, said. \u201cThe new gym is great, but I see it more as a place to go for graduation in case it rains. It should be the seniors’ choice in the end.\u201d<\/p>\n
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