Curious about CC’s thoughts.
Full story here: http://thetab.com/us/michigan/2017/03/28/michigan-officially-announced-wont-commencement-speaker-people-furious-4402
"Following several months of speculation about who would speak at this year’s Spring 2017 Commencement, the university announced this morning that in lieu of a traditional speaker, the ceremony will have several speeches from faculty and students, and a video of past speeches…
Hyde said that after viewing the results of a survey she sent out to students about Commencement, her biggest concern was that students seemed to feel that the program was becoming a celebration of the university and not the specific 2017 graduating class."
This topic came up several months ago on the Michigan parents’ Facebook group, and the parents were going bonkers! I gently suggested that the the main focus is your graduating student, and speaker or no speaker it will be an amazing and memorable day. I got completely flamed, with such comments as – I didn’t spend $250k to have no graduation speaker!!! These parents were going nuts.
My year they had Lawrence Kasdan. It was completely unmemorable and disappointing. But perhaps having no one except faculty and students would have been worse yet.
I agree with brantly’s take. The students are going to treasure the weekend with their friends and family and being nostalgic. I also have little doubt that the University will come through with an very fine commencement ceremony. I really don’t see them blowing it for the bicentennial.
Parents and students should try to bring a positive attitude and they will then enjoy the weekend.