Our Perspective......

ASU: simply the place to be

U.S. News and World Report magazine continues to confirm what those of us who are proud enough to attend Appalachian State University already know: we are among the top colleges in the South as well as in the country.

Appalachian's rankings improved since last year, which is one of the reasons our university is becoming so desireable to prospective students.

The rankings show why this yearÕs freshman class is the largest in history. They also indicate why the formula used to decide how many students to admit based on how many have accepted in the past no longer works. More students than expected are accepting the invitation to attend Appalachian than ever before.

WeÕre at the top not only because we attract excellent and numerous applicants, but because we retain students. Sometimes for five, six or seven years.

Appalachian State is the place to be. We have top professors; the highest percentage of doctoral level faculty in the state. There are over 200 clubs and organizations to keep our students involved and passionate about their role on campus.

Our chancellor cares about his students, attending their meetings, hosting dinners for them at his residence, and providing that ever-popular thumbs up in encouragement.

Appalachian State attracts exceptional students, faculty and staff for so many reasons. We are proud that U.S. News and World Report continues to recognize this university as one of the best in the nation, confirming what members of the Appalachian family have known all along.

COMMENTARY

University should revamp graduation format

"Pomp and Circumstance," is playing, the class valedictorian speaks, hats fly and everyone is looking forward to a new future.

Freshmen have recently experienced this when they graduated from high school. The seniors at Appalachian State University will be experiencing something very different this December.

They will be splitting up into different colleges and having separate ceremonies. If your friends were in the Riech College of Business, and you were in Biology Department, you would not get to graduate with them.

I have two older sisters who went to Duke University. They graduated a year apart from each other. I know Appalachian is not like Duke, but I do like the way they handle the graduation ceremonies.

At Duke they had a keynote speaker. I had the privilege of hearing President George Bush and the next year, President Jimmy Carter speak.

They spoke to the entire graduating class. What they had to say not only had an impact on the graduating class, but also other proud parents in the audience and the many friends and family present.

Some people say, "Well, I don't want to have to sit through the calling of everyone’s name." Also, people don't want to have the ceremony at the stadium because of the chance of rain.

Then, Varsity Gymnasium just isn’t the place for graduation ceremonies. At Duke they just recognized the whole group.

Then later on, they split up into their respective colleges and had separate ceremonies there. Even at these ceremonies, they just received a blank sheet of rolled paper. Then, the graduate finally gets the coveted diploma at a table during specified times.

Why can't it be like this in Boone? With the pending completion of George M. Holmes Convocation Center, is it really necessary to keep the tradition of only having separate graduation ceremonies?

The only time the whole university comes together, or at least all the faculty and staff, is during convocation. And most seniors don't attend this anyway, unless it is required for a class they are taking.

This is a sad situation to be in. Many people have missed wonderful speakers, like Elie Wiesel, at Convocation.

College seniors miss out on so much because there is not a ceremony for the graduating class. Many other colleges organize their ceremonies like Duke. Nothing is preventing Appalachian from following the other colleges' examples.

It would be a wonderful and fulfilling experience to hear someone of importance speak at your graduation. I'm not expecting Vice President and current Democratic presidential nominee Al Gore to speak, but wouldn't this give seniors an incentive to actually stay for their graduation?

I know many people who do not want to stick around for their graduation because they will get their diplomas in the mail anyway. It is not that often when people graduate from college. It is sad that not much importance is placed on such a key event.

In my opinion, a college degree is more important than a high school diploma. I do not think many people would disagree with me on this.

Shouldn't we get more than just a simple, separated ceremony? I would like to share this special event with all my friends who are seniors, not just the ones from my department.