<p>I was a bit dismayed to see that graduation will be held in the Bender Arena (my college and grad school ceremonies were outside), not a very attractive setting, and will be two hours long. Assuming that we have to get there early to snag decent seats together, that’s a looong time to sit. Then there’s a reception afterwards that I’m wondering about–it seems like it would be a mob scene and may be best avoided. We have nice plans for that evening, and a nap or a walk might be a better use of our time. Anyone have AU graduation experiences to share?</p>
<p>Since no one else answered my post, I decided to do it myself–maybe it will be of some use to someone, some day.</p>
<p>D graduated from CAS. The ceremony was nicely done, but a half hour longer than the stated two hours, and quite a challenge for the vast majority of spectators who were seated on bleachers. I wish I had thought to bring one of those folding seats for bleachers that provide a backrest. It was also quite warm, so a very cold bottle of water would have been smart.</p>
<p>Every PhD, masters and BA grad individually walked the stage–it was endless and incredibly tedious. I guess it’s important to some to cross the stage and have one’s name called out, but I know my D for one couldn’t have cared less, and we all would have been perfectly happy to have the degrees conferred en masse and the ceremony kept to a reasonable length. The best part was the City of Alexandria bagpipe corps that played/marched at the beginning and end–they sounded great and lent a wonderful air of solemnity.</p>
<p>It was very hard to locate D in the crowd after the ceremony ended–she didn’t have her cell phone because her dress had no pockets and she wasn’t allowed to bring a purse–so I recommend people make arrangements to meet up at a pre-selected spot a bit away from the madding crowd around the Bender Arena doors. We skipped the reception. With hundreds of students and their families, I can only guess that it was a zoo, and since commencement ended so late, we had to hustle to make our dinner reservations anyway. </p>
<p>So bottom line for future graduation attendees-- arrive very early for the best seats, bring a backrest if you have any back issues at all, bring a cool drink, plan how to find your grad, assume it will end later than scheduled, enjoy the bagpipes!</p>
<p>And heartiest congratulations to the class of 2013!</p>
<p>MommaJ - congratulations to your daughter and your entire family! Thank you also (as usual) for the great tips, which I hope I will remember two years from now! </p>
<p>When we attended my son’s graduation from another school last year, we sat in outdoor bleachers in the south! I don’t think I remembered backrest then but worst of all - I left my camera battery back in the hotel!</p>
<p>My graduation from AU waaaay back in the day was at DAR Constitution Hall. Nice place!</p>
<p>They also use it a lot for high school graduations and D1 and D2 had their hs grads there.</p>
<p>I attended both the SPA graduation on Saturday morning (for S2’s MPP) and Kogod graduation on Sunday morning (for S3). Bender Arena is definitely uninspiring. But no less so that S2’s undergrad graduation in Magness arena at University of Denver–an athletic facility is an athletic facility. </p>
<p>Emory’s graduation on their quad was in a beautiful setting–but it began at exactly 8 a.m. in an effort to defeat the muggy heat ( it was already 86 at that time of the morning) and as it had rained heavily the night before the grass was extremely soggy. Not to mention that bugs were out in full force. S1’s department threw a breakfast at 6 a.m., and gave us the advice to reserve our seats before coming to it. By the end of the graduation ceremony, it was 93 without a bit of a breeze.</p>
<p>I will take Bender Arena in a heartbeat.</p>
<p>Saturday we made the mistake of sitting directly beneath an air conditioning vent–we froze to death.</p>
<p>We had pre-set a location to meet after graduation, so we went to that spot both days to wait for our graduates.</p>
<p>The important thing is that our kiddoes have all graduated, and are on to the next big adventure in their lives.</p>
<p>Congrats to all the grads!</p>
<p>Congratulations and thanks for the intel.</p>
<p>I hope you’ll both keep visiting this board to answer questions for other parents! (And students, too.)</p>