<p>Rachel Maddow!! Now I wish my D was a senior not a first year :) Do kids who aren't working reunion go back for Commencement? I know she has friends who are seniors but jpw open is Graduation seating?</p>
<p>WHAT? That’s AWESOME! </p>
<p>This is the first time in umpteenth years that it’s not been a Smith alum. Though Rachel Maddow, honestly, should have been a Smithie. I wonder how they swung that one.</p>
<p>Oh, my God!!! I want to go so badly, but my daughter’s only a first-year! She’s applied to help out with reunion/graduation so I hope at least she is able to see her. I also wonder about tickets. Anybody know?</p>
<p>When I got my MSW from Simmons years ago, Maya Angelou was our commencement speaker and that was truly wonderful.</p>
<p>S&P, it’s a win-win for Rachel and Smith. I understand she has a home near Northampton where she goes on weekends. Yes, she should have been a Smithie.</p>
<p>Anyone can show up to Commencement but if you want a seat, you have to get there super early. There are no tickets. Even if Commencement is rained out and it’s held in the ITT instead of the Quad, there are no tickets.</p>
<p>(There’s also no housing if you don’t have aren’t working reunion/have special permission to be on campus due to an org/have a 5 College class that ends after Smith does.)</p>
<p>Borgin, thanks for the information about seating. We only live 1-1/2 hours away so we could make it work!</p>
<p>Are you kiddin me! I loooove Rachel Maddow!!! she is just amazing.</p>
<p>We are driving distance too - although I think it would just be our D who would give it a go. We were at Green St Cafe last weekend and Rachel Maddow’s pic is in their window.</p>
<p>Yes, usually anyone can go to commencement, though parking is a nightmare and you need to get there early to get a seat (especially if you want one in view of the stage). </p>
<p>I wonder though, since it’s a national celebrity this time (and don’t get me wrong, the alums we had were all super awesome), if they will distribute tickets. I don’t know what htey did when GLoria Steinem or Betty Friedan were hte speaker, so I don’t know for sure what happens when you get a well known person.</p>
<p>SandP, there were no tickets for Steinem (and that one was rained out and held in the ITT). I just showed up (an hour or so early) and sat toward the back. I don’t think the procedure will change with Maddow.</p>
<p>It was first-come, first-served seating for Madeline Albright in 2003 (minus the seats in front reserved for graduates, of course) so I can’t imagine it would be different now.</p>
<p>Speakers have really improved since I’ve graduated…if it weren’t for a friend’s wedding that weekend, I would be very tempted to go up and watch the speech and see friends who are celebrating their 5th reunion!</p>
<p>UGHHHH…you’ve got to be KIDDING me…I LOVE Rachel Maddow and wish I was up there so I could see it </p>
<p>Another point for Smith</p>
<p>Hey, my daughter is graduating and we want to be able to see her and Rachel!! I’m glad to know we’re going to have to go early.</p>
<p>Congrats Smith Mom!!</p>
<p>We are interested in going to Commencement this year to hear Rachel Maddow (and perhaps get a chance to say hello to our daughter who will be working then). I see that Commencement Exercises begin at 10 AM, with seniors and faculty assembling at 9:15 AM. How early should we arrive?</p>
<p>Okay, I’m anal, but seats with decent views go <em>very</em> early. My advice: walk on over as soon as you’ve had a bit of breakfast and then settle in with your camera and either talk or bring a book. Two of D’s aunts came for graduation and I’m glad we chivvied everyone into place early. It helped that everyone except me was a morning person and for this I made an exception. Btw, not just graduation…I thought Ivy Day was extremely moving and I feel so…grateful/privileged…that I didn’t miss it.</p>
<p>TD, thanks for the advice. We’ll be driving 1-1/2 hours to Noho that morning so it looks like we’re going to need to get an early start!</p>
<p>There’s ample parking at the high school and the side streets between Scales and the Church/high school. If the weather is nice, all the better for a short stroll down Elm.</p>
<p>If it’s raining, Ill shuttle folk for a nominal fee. ;)</p>
<p>It may not be such a big deal to sit a little further back, especially as your D isn’t graduating, and you may want to cede seats on the aisles and in the very front to people who want a good view of the stage to take photos. but if you or your Husband don’t mind hanging out, one of you can grab a good book and go early to just hold a couple of seats. It’s nice to sit out in the Quad in the sunshine.</p>
<p>CrewDad, thanks for the tip about parking north of the college. I’ve been wondering about we’d manage that. S&P, I agree; we don’t have to have “front row seats” as our daughter isn’t graduating (although I’m reserving them now for 2013! 
) Thanks for the thoughtful point about accommodating photographers with aisle seats. I just want to be able to hear Rachel well enough as often outdoor sound systems leave a lot to be desired. I’ll bring a good book. Let’s hope it’s a perfect sunshine-y day!</p>