Commencement exercises for the Class of 1995 will be held in Memorial Stadium because of the large number of people who are expected to come hear President Bill Clinton speak at graduation this year, Acting College President James Wright announced yesterday.
The College has held the ceremony on the lawn in front of Baker Library for more than 40 years, but Wright said the space between Webster Hall and Sanborn Library cannot accommodate the crowd Clinton will draw. Wright made the final decision to change locations.
A letter released by the President's Office said the College expects about 20,000 people to attend Commencement.
"We have been having 10,000 people come in past years, so it is obviously inadequate," Wright said in an interview yesterday.
Ironically, Commencement was originally moved from the Bema to Baker's front lawn in 1953 to accommodate the crowd gathered to hear then President Dwight D. Eisenhower deliver the Commencement address.
Wright said he does not know if the move to Memorial Field will be permanent.
"It would be premature to think that," he said. "Following Commencement this year, people will give thought to that, and we will talk to the Class of 1996."
Wright said he considered moving Commencement to the Green, but decided that space would still be inadequate for a crowd of 20,000.
Senior Assistant to the President Peter Gilbert said even if the podium were placed in front of Dartmouth Hall, sight and sound would be obstructed.
"We looked at the Green in a number of different circumstances," Gilbert said.
Wright said if Commencement were held on the Green it would be covered by "chairs, sound systems, cables, platforms for the press and port-a-potties.
"The Green wouldn't be green for a week or so," he said.
According to Gilbert the decision was made to preserve the "quality of the day."
Wright said holding Commencement in the stadium will safeguard the central campus area and "protect the occasion and make it special and nice."
Although the College has not yet consulted with the White House or the Secret Service about Clinton's security, Wright said "we have tried to anticipate their needs."
For example, Wright said the College will need a restricted space since "we'll all have to walk through metal detectors."
The large number of guests and academic regalia will contribute to a more aesthetically pleasing atmosphere, Wright said.
But there will also be a group who will examine ways to make the stadium location more beautiful, according to Gilbert.
The event will be held in the stadium regardless of weather conditions, Wright said. In the past, the College used Thompson Arena, which has a maximum capacity of 4,900, as a rain location.
Gilbert said if it rains, guests will be able to watch Commencement via remote television from indoor locations around campus.
Wright said he reached his decision after consulting with seniors, administrators and College President James Freedman, who is currently on sabbatical.
"I wouldn't decide anything that [Freedman] wasn't comfortable with," Wright said.
Wright said he anticipates students will react "as we did at first, saying it is nicer on the Green.
"But when they think of possible consequences, a lot of students will be relieved their family members will be able to get in and see," Wright said.
