The brief controversy that erupted this spring when the College announced it would move Commencement from its traditional location in front of Baker Library to Memorial Field, has for the most part subsided.
In mid-April the College announced that due to security and logistical reasons, Commencement would be moved from Baker lawn,
where it had been held since 1953.
Acting President James Wright said the Baker Library location could not accommodate the large crowd that President Bill Clinton is expected to draw.
The College estimates 20,000 people will attend Commencement this year, according to a letter released by the Office of the President. Last year 10,000 people attended.
Soon after Wright announced the move, many seniors said they were disappointed with the decision and felt the ceremonies should not be held in the stadium.
Class of 1995 President Alyse Kornfeld said the initial reaction from members of the class was "extremely negative."
"It will still be a special day, but it takes something away having your parents in the stands as if you were in the starting lineup of a football game instead of graduating from college," Natalie Herring '95 said.
Some seniors were more vehemently opposed to the move.
"If President Clinton is unwilling to appear at Baker or if President Wright thinks it's going to be too crowded there, maybe [Clinton] shouldn't come," Jon Belk '95 said.
But much of this negative attitude has faded as the event draws nearer. Kornfeld said the senior class has basically accepted the fact that the ceremony will be moved.
"I think that once the graduates got more detailed information about the reasons for the move they began to accept it," Kornfeld said.
Belk was also more supportive of the move in a more recent interview with The Dartmouth.
"As long as it doesn't rain like today it'll be fine," he said.
In a letter printed in The Dartmouth, Senior Assistant to the President Peter Gilbert outlined the major reasons for the move to the stadium.
Gilbert explained that, given the expected crowd, Memorial Field offers 16,616 people better lines of sight to the speakers and graduates. He also said the audience will be able to hear better in the stadium.
Security is also an issue that necessitated the move to Memorial Field, according to Gilbert. Whatever the location, massive security checks and perimeter fencing will be necessary because of Clinton's visit.
Gilbert said having the ceremonies on the Green would have required unsightly wires, fences and portable toilets. In addition, access to buildings surrounding the Green would have been limited, hampering pre-Commencement events that use these buildings.
Wright said he made the decision to move Commencement after consulting with seniors, administrators and College President James Freedman, who is on sabbatical.
Gilbert said recently that the move is not a permanent one.
"It is a one-year only move," Gilbert said. "It is in response to the particular needs of this year."
