Concerns About A Plaza Graduation Are Overblown (A Graduation Update)
Okay so, I just listened to Dr. Tidwell’s presentation to student government (SGA) about a spring graduation in the plaza. After hearing the plans and seeing accommodations administrators have made towards student concerns, it seems to me that much of the hysteria surrounding a plaza graduation has been way overblown. Here are a couple of reasons why I think so, along with some highlights from tonight’s meeting.
Melting In the Sun
Let’s take an easy example for starters: the concern about the temperature outdoors. Many of the 3,500 plus commentators on the petition that went around on social media in opposition to a plaza graduation stated they were going to melt in the Texas sun if the University held an outdoor graduation at the start of the Texas summer.
However, as UT-Tyler’s Vice President of Marketing Lucas Roebuck pointed out during the meeting, (this wasn't his first point, but my pointing it out first) according to historical record, the average temperature on May 2 at 9 a.m. has been 65 degrees. This is not the scorching Armageddon I have been hearing about.
If anything, students should be concerned about it being too cold, not about it being too hot. So I think the hysteria about melting in the East Texas heat has been overblown.
Limited vs. Unlimited Attendees
Moreover, as opposed to the limited seating in the Cowan Center where graduates have been limited to two or three tickets for family, the plaza setup allows students unlimited attendees. There is no limit on the number of friend and family who can to watch their graduate cross the stage.
This means, that even that one distant family member--you know that great aunt or great uncle in California you never met--can come watch you walk for graduation (and maybe even bring a nice graduation gift, too!).
Rather than having to exclude family members who want to come, under the plaza model, graduates can welcome all family to the ceremony--a benefit Student Body President Joshua Menhennet said during that he valued about the plaza model.
But anyway, I digress. The point is that the plaza model has some noteworthy benefits. It is not all doom and gloom. Back to the critiques about the plaza.
Grandma’s Step Count
Now, I know at this point, some readers may be thinking, “What about my fragile grandma who can’t walk over the large plaza terrain?” or, “What about my wheelchair-bound cousin who wants to attend but needs handicap accessibility?”
Tidwell said the plaza setup will be fully ADA compliant.
And if you are still concerned about the outdoor temperature being too much for grandma (which is understandable), he also said there will be two climate-controlled locations nearby with live streaming of the ceremony: the UC Theater and The Herrington-Patriot Center.
The benefit to graduates's guests who prefer to watch the ceremony inside will be able to watch their graduate cross the stage via a live broadcast, and then, when the ceremony is over, Tidwell said, “you walk out a door and you’re on the plaza.”
To me, these nearby locations and the ability to immediately join the planned festivities just a few yards away sounds pretty accommodating. If I was graduating, I think my elderly family members would enjoy the indoor conveniences with immediate access to the ceremony grounds.
Ritter Tower, but Blue
Now, this point about immediate access to the plaza is significant because administrators said there will be festivities with music and activities immediately following the ceremony. They also plan to have photo opportunities setup iconic locations around campus where many people like to take pictures, Vice President of Student Success Tolliver said.
Their plan is to allow students to linger with family members and they hope these festivities and special location for photography will make the occasion more memorable.
One example Tolliver shared is that Ritter Tower will be lit-up in all blue light the night before to mark the special occasion of students graduating. Patriots will be able to take photos and guide their family members on a tour of campus if they want to show family around and take pictures.
In the past, students had to rush off campus after the ceremony was over in order to make room in the parking lot for the next college’s graduation ceremony happening soon, Tolliver said. However, under the new model, having all graduates graduate at once, allows for more time to enjoy the campus and how a slow leave.
Tidwell’s Vision: A Memorable Shared Experience
You see (digressing again), Tidwell said his vision and motive behind the outdoor graduation is to add even more beauty to the graduation ceremony so that it captures the meaning many students feel closing their time at the University means to them.
He mentioned how the outdoor graduation he had at his own graduation twenty-five years ago at Ball State University still sticks with him today. He said it provided a meaningful end to his time at University.
Tonight he shard how his desire is for UT-Tyler students to have an experience of the same kind of value to their graduation from their university.
It seems to me this is what the changes to graduation, photo ops and Ritter Tower in blue are all about: affirming the meaning behind many students’ graduation from college and creating ways to mark this in meaningful shared experiences. This isn't the evil plan I heard about on social.
They’ve Got It
So, after hearing these plans and observing the arrangements made to student participation and feedback, it seems to me that graduation concerns have been overblown and that administration has got this covered.
That is, it seems to me that administration, under the guidance of student voices on the planning committees, have made precautions to accommodate much of what has been student-voiced concerns about the ceremony.
In fact, Tolliver and President Tidwell went out of their way to share that their plans have changed in response to student concerns expressed on the planning committee. This is specifically true as it relates to parking
One Graduate, Two Parking Spots
Tidwell said that when it comes to parking, the university will have police officers stationed throughout the campus directing traffic,what he called a “Disneyland-like” setup. He also mentioned that nearby Rose Heights Church will allow the University to use their parking lot, a location that accommodates around five hundred additional parking spots, I believe.
Moreover, each graduate will get two parking spots for four-wheeled vehicles to attend on-campus graduation. Tidwell said these can be two-seater automobiles or 15-passenger vans, however the graduate wants to work it out, but they are guaranteed two parking spaces per graduate.
Something Special After All
So it appears that administration has been responsive to student opinion--contrary to detractor opinions, contrary to outcries of the opposite on social media.
After hearing all of this, I cannot help but conclude that much of the emotion in reaction a plaza graduation has been overblown and the attacks upon Dr. Tidwell’s competence and leadership by tonight’s plans are once again proven wrong.
I don’t even like big universities and I see that Tidwell has been a collaborative leader--both with students and with administrators--to create something remarkable and significant for students.
I think the lesson to be learned here for people who have been following this situation is that not every outrage is truly an outrage and not every new direction for the university is one that’s set to run off a cliff.
The plaza plan is not as bad as people made it out to be. In fact, it is really something quite special, and if I was still a student, I would want it to be the way I ended my time at university. Tidwell and his administration have stewarded this well and I think in the end graduates will be very pleased.
Twitter: @JamesH2819
Melting In the Sun
Let’s take an easy example for starters: the concern about the temperature outdoors. Many of the 3,500 plus commentators on the petition that went around on social media in opposition to a plaza graduation stated they were going to melt in the Texas sun if the University held an outdoor graduation at the start of the Texas summer.
However, as UT-Tyler’s Vice President of Marketing Lucas Roebuck pointed out during the meeting, (this wasn't his first point, but my pointing it out first) according to historical record, the average temperature on May 2 at 9 a.m. has been 65 degrees. This is not the scorching Armageddon I have been hearing about.
If anything, students should be concerned about it being too cold, not about it being too hot. So I think the hysteria about melting in the East Texas heat has been overblown.
Limited vs. Unlimited Attendees
Moreover, as opposed to the limited seating in the Cowan Center where graduates have been limited to two or three tickets for family, the plaza setup allows students unlimited attendees. There is no limit on the number of friend and family who can to watch their graduate cross the stage.
This means, that even that one distant family member--you know that great aunt or great uncle in California you never met--can come watch you walk for graduation (and maybe even bring a nice graduation gift, too!).
Rather than having to exclude family members who want to come, under the plaza model, graduates can welcome all family to the ceremony--a benefit Student Body President Joshua Menhennet said during that he valued about the plaza model.
But anyway, I digress. The point is that the plaza model has some noteworthy benefits. It is not all doom and gloom. Back to the critiques about the plaza.
Grandma’s Step Count
Now, I know at this point, some readers may be thinking, “What about my fragile grandma who can’t walk over the large plaza terrain?” or, “What about my wheelchair-bound cousin who wants to attend but needs handicap accessibility?”
Tidwell said the plaza setup will be fully ADA compliant.
And if you are still concerned about the outdoor temperature being too much for grandma (which is understandable), he also said there will be two climate-controlled locations nearby with live streaming of the ceremony: the UC Theater and The Herrington-Patriot Center.
The benefit to graduates's guests who prefer to watch the ceremony inside will be able to watch their graduate cross the stage via a live broadcast, and then, when the ceremony is over, Tidwell said, “you walk out a door and you’re on the plaza.”
To me, these nearby locations and the ability to immediately join the planned festivities just a few yards away sounds pretty accommodating. If I was graduating, I think my elderly family members would enjoy the indoor conveniences with immediate access to the ceremony grounds.
Ritter Tower, but Blue
Now, this point about immediate access to the plaza is significant because administrators said there will be festivities with music and activities immediately following the ceremony. They also plan to have photo opportunities setup iconic locations around campus where many people like to take pictures, Vice President of Student Success Tolliver said.
Their plan is to allow students to linger with family members and they hope these festivities and special location for photography will make the occasion more memorable.
One example Tolliver shared is that Ritter Tower will be lit-up in all blue light the night before to mark the special occasion of students graduating. Patriots will be able to take photos and guide their family members on a tour of campus if they want to show family around and take pictures.
In the past, students had to rush off campus after the ceremony was over in order to make room in the parking lot for the next college’s graduation ceremony happening soon, Tolliver said. However, under the new model, having all graduates graduate at once, allows for more time to enjoy the campus and how a slow leave.
Tidwell’s Vision: A Memorable Shared Experience
You see (digressing again), Tidwell said his vision and motive behind the outdoor graduation is to add even more beauty to the graduation ceremony so that it captures the meaning many students feel closing their time at the University means to them.
He mentioned how the outdoor graduation he had at his own graduation twenty-five years ago at Ball State University still sticks with him today. He said it provided a meaningful end to his time at University.
Tonight he shard how his desire is for UT-Tyler students to have an experience of the same kind of value to their graduation from their university.
 |
| (Screen shot from SGA's meeting. Concept only. Not final.) |
It seems to me this is what the changes to graduation, photo ops and Ritter Tower in blue are all about: affirming the meaning behind many students’ graduation from college and creating ways to mark this in meaningful shared experiences. This isn't the evil plan I heard about on social.
They’ve Got It
So, after hearing these plans and observing the arrangements made to student participation and feedback, it seems to me that graduation concerns have been overblown and that administration has got this covered.
That is, it seems to me that administration, under the guidance of student voices on the planning committees, have made precautions to accommodate much of what has been student-voiced concerns about the ceremony.
In fact, Tolliver and President Tidwell went out of their way to share that their plans have changed in response to student concerns expressed on the planning committee. This is specifically true as it relates to parking
One Graduate, Two Parking Spots
Tidwell said that when it comes to parking, the university will have police officers stationed throughout the campus directing traffic,what he called a “Disneyland-like” setup. He also mentioned that nearby Rose Heights Church will allow the University to use their parking lot, a location that accommodates around five hundred additional parking spots, I believe.
Moreover, each graduate will get two parking spots for four-wheeled vehicles to attend on-campus graduation. Tidwell said these can be two-seater automobiles or 15-passenger vans, however the graduate wants to work it out, but they are guaranteed two parking spaces per graduate.
Something Special After All
So it appears that administration has been responsive to student opinion--contrary to detractor opinions, contrary to outcries of the opposite on social media.
After hearing all of this, I cannot help but conclude that much of the emotion in reaction a plaza graduation has been overblown and the attacks upon Dr. Tidwell’s competence and leadership by tonight’s plans are once again proven wrong.
I don’t even like big universities and I see that Tidwell has been a collaborative leader--both with students and with administrators--to create something remarkable and significant for students.
I think the lesson to be learned here for people who have been following this situation is that not every outrage is truly an outrage and not every new direction for the university is one that’s set to run off a cliff.
The plaza plan is not as bad as people made it out to be. In fact, it is really something quite special, and if I was still a student, I would want it to be the way I ended my time at university. Tidwell and his administration have stewarded this well and I think in the end graduates will be very pleased.
Twitter: @JamesH2819
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