Letter to the Editors: Graduation Move Could Hinder Participation
May 13, 2011
To the Editors:
It is with great dismay that I have learned that Oberlin College is considering moving its future graduation ceremonies to the Sunday before Memorial Day. In my opinion, as an Oberlin resident, this would be a serious mistake. The present arrangement, taking advantage of the long weekend, allows unhurried enjoyment of the graduation and holiday festivities by the Oberlin College Community and the Community of Oberlin alike — two communities that should not be as separate as they sometimes are. Moving graduation to the Sunday before Memorial day would hinder participation by the community and college alumni, not to mention interfere with the religious observances of the local churches. I would like to encourage the College administration to reconsider this proposed tinkering with success. Not all change is for the better.
–Tom Locke
