Let's Commence with the Overpriced Commencements

If you visit the University of Michigan's central campus these days, you'll notice that the famous Diag has a new look. There's speaker stands, plastic flooring, bleachers, and about 30,000 chairs all occupying the space normally reserved for trees, students, and squirrels. There's a commotion of workers dragging stuff and pounding things and shouting orders. The bizarreness of it all is sort of refreshing as the cycles of the Diag are usually pretty predictable. What is all this about? It's about the 2008 UM commencements.

But here's a thought: who is paying for all of this additional commencement labor and equipment? Since the University is renovating the "Big House" and couldn't hold Undergraduate commencements there, they looked elsewhere. Initially, they had the idea of using the large convocation center on EMU's west campus. Good idea as it's all set up for such an activity (with loads of parking) and UM would only need to toss up some banners and "maize and blue" the place up a bit. But then the complaints started to arise. Students didn't want to graduate somewhere other than on their own campus. Family and Alumni supported the students' protest and the University caved in.

But now rumors are flying about the cost associated with this change in venue. And we aren't talking about thousands or even tens of thousands of dollars but in the hundreds of thousands of dollars to hold the one-time commencements on the Diag (and we're talking over and above the usual cost). It's easy to imagine this extra money as lots of equipment had to be rented and not all the help are UM employees but some are contracted help (including around the clock security in place to secure all of this expensive equipment).

I do hope the graduating UM seniors appreciate this effort and cost in the years to come (but not to worry, the University Alumni Association isn't going to let them forget it). They should think about all of this extra University money being spent on their one-time Diag ceremony and how it could have been spent. Money that isn't helping the local community like better employee raises. Money that isn't helping to fund student pet projects like reading programs in poor communities. Money that isn't spent on helping to build homes in blighted areas. Money that isn't spent on food kitchen programs or family shelters. I can name any number of social causes that the students panhandle for on nearly a daily basis around the Diag but you get the picture. So commence with the overpriced commencements and let the leaders of tomorrow have their expensive party.