Lillian Appel, Barnard’s manager for dean’s projects and programs, faced blank stares and questions this afternoon as she debriefed Barnard seniors on their Class Day arrangements.
After the last few years of conducting Class Day on Columbia’s South Lawn, Appel announced at a Class of 2010 meeting that this year’s Class Day will be held in Columbia’s gym on May 17 at 2:30 p.m. (Many groaned.) She noted that this was done three years ago due to rain, and worked well because all seats had good views and the AV was top-notch.
The tangible drawback? Previously, BC Class Day was a non-ticketed event to which all relatives could come. This year, seniors will get four tickets for family members because of the gym’s capacity.
One senior raised her hand and asked, “Why aren’t we graduating beside the Nexus? That’s what they’ve been telling us from the beginning—construction will be done, and you’ll graduate by the Nexus.”
Appel responded that despite previous announcements, a Nexus (or Diana)-side ceremony would leave Barnard with little space, and would further limit the number of relatives per graduate allowed in.
Also, remember when President Lee Bollinger announced that the University was changing the date of Commencement due to a religious conflict? He didn’t have a date at the time, but Appel said the ceremony has been rescheduled from May 19 to May 18.
And that’s why Barnard’s Class Day has to move, Appel said. Columbia College’s Class Day will be held on South Lawn earlier on Monday, May 17, and the University will have to hurry to convert the campus into Commencement mode—no time for Barnard’s Class Day in between.
Not for nothing, Appel warned the weary, “I think you’re going to be very happy in the end.”
She added, “You don’t have many alternatives.”
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