To the Editor:
The Student Assembly's Executive Committee should be ashamed of itself.Its resolution calling for Commencement on the Baker Lawn shows a clear lack of effort at gathering information about the College's decision to move the ceremony to Memorial Field.
Although, like many seniors, I was upset at the announcement, after examining the College's reasoning I became convinced the decision is a logical one.Based on the statements made by Assembly President Rukmini Sichitiu and VicePresident John Honovich in The Dartmouth, the SA Execs apparently did not take any steps to become more informed about the issue before making their resolution.
I had the opportunity to discuss the change of venue with Director of News Service Alex Huppe and Senior Advisor to the President Peter Gilbert, along with a group of concerned students. Huppe and Gilbert convinced me that the administration has spent considerable time determining what is best for all involved, including the seniors and their guests.Furthermore, they made it clear that this move will resolve sight and sound difficulties which I have seen exist at the Baker Lawn ceremony in recent years.
Contrary to the beliefs underlying the SA Execs' resolution, the administration's decision is not an attempt to emphasize Clinton's appearance over the importance of Commencement or to give outsiders priority over graduates and their families. Instead, the decision was made to give all friends and family the opportunity to share in the excitement of combining Commencement with the President's historical visit.
Had the SA Execs taken the time to gather the information available to them, they too would be convinced the move to Memorial Field is in everyone's best interest for this year.
