UM ‘cattle roundup’

May 19 was a very proud day, as it was the day that all the hard work I had done over the past few years came to a conclusion and I received my degree from the University of Maine.

The past three years I have worked hard to earn this degree and have also invested a great deal of time and money to get to where I am today. The ceremony the university gave me to celebrate this accomplishment fell far short of what I and the other members of the Class of 2001 deserved.

The material regarding commencement included an inclement weather schedule. As the forecast was for rain on Saturday, a forecast given since Wednesday, I was prepared to follow the schedule provided to me and all the other graduates and their families.

When I got up Saturday morning to prepare for graduation I heard the inclement weather schedule had been abandoned. Why was this? Rain was predicted for May 19 and the alternate plan would have to be used. Both venues for the ceremony should have been prepared for the event as this was a plan that was already formalized.

I do not accept that there was not enough time to prepare for the inside event, as Morse Field was back to normal four hours after the ceremony was completed. If Morse Field could be turned over that quickly, I am sure the Alfond Arena could have been set up just as easily. Even if it had meant paying a crew overtime, I think the graduating class had earned a dry and dignified ceremony.

The ceremony felt more like a cattle roundup than a graduation. When we were presented our diplomas the names were called off so fast that family and friends were caught off guard many times. We were rushed through so quickly there was no time for applause or pictures by the people that had come down from the stands to take photographs. This was supposed to be a special moment for each of us, not a foot race.

The press releases prior to graduation stated how the university president would be shaking the hand of each graduate after receiving their diploma. That tradition went out of the window as only half of the graduates attending were able to shake the hand of President Peter Hoff. It seems time was of the essence when it came to commencing our commencement.

There was one last, huge oversight to my graduating class, and that came at the conclusion of the program. The members of the class had all returned to our seats and stood waiting for the moment when we would be called on to move our tassels from the right side of our caps to the left signaling to our family and friends we were now official graduates. This moment never came, denying us this right and privilege enjoyed by all other graduating classes.

Many may think these complaints are petty, but if you surveyed each class member who was there, along with their guests, I am sure you would find the majority would have these same feelings. My commencement memories should be joyous ones, but poor planning and decision-making have tarnished them.

Warren M. Alley lives in Orono.