The end of the school year is fast approaching, everyone.
For some of us, that means that we have Easter break to look forward to before summer vacation and then preparing to continue our studies the next year.
However, for those of us in our final year, this means that we have one final goal which is now visible to us in the distance: graduation.
Can you believe that, as of today, there are only 45 days before graduation?
With that thought in mind, consider this: can you believe that, after all this time spent in school searching for a higher education, graduating students only receive four tickets each?
You heard that right.
Each student is only able to obtain four tickets each from the university for any guests that they may wish to bring. The Xavierite staff finds this news incredibly disheartening to hear, as well as incredibly frustrating. We got through high school, were expected to enroll in college, survived college, and graduated. Then, we’re told that, as witness to our completion of our higher education, there can only be a maximum of four people invited per person?
We at The Xavierite find this to be a slap in the face, especially to students who belong to bigger families.
This protocol only allows admission for one student’s parents, if both were to be invited, and two other people in their family. What if a student has more than two siblings? What if they had also wanted to invite their grandparents? What about the consideration of other students’ familial circumstances that are limited because of this system?
The limitation of only allowing four tickets per graduating students is ridiculous by itself. Unfortunately, that’s not all. If you venture onto the Saint Xavier website and search for information on the commencement ceremony, you will find something interesting.
This is quoted directly from the page that cites information on tickets for the commencement ceremony: “All guests, including infants and children require tickets.”
The Xavierite staff acknowledges the necessity of younger children to have a seat.
However, we all find it completely perplexing that an infant, a baby, would require a ticket for the ceremony and cuts another potential person from personally witnessing the student’s graduation.
This protocol almost never applies elsewhere for other ceremonies and/or performances, so why should it here?
However, once again taken from the website, “strollers are not allowed in the arena.”
The choice of arena, the Shannon Center, poses another problem.
The Xavierite staff understands that, because of the small class size, at least in comparison with larger universities such as the University of Illinois, it’s logical to have a smaller arena to host our graduations, especially when we have one on our own campus.
However, wouldn’t it be worth at least considering reserving a bigger arena, at the very least for the sake of the students that have worked so hard to obtain their degree and deserve to have whoever they wish at their graduation?
That being said, at this point, we at the Xavierite hope that you all attended the Grad Fest in order to obtain your guest tickets for graduation.
Hopefully, if more are needed, you can see if anyone has forfeited their tickets, or that a fellow graduating student is selling theirs.
Letter to the Editor Policy
Here at The Xavierite, we try to represent the thoughts and opinions of the student body and Saint Xavier community within our Viewpoints section.
If you feel that there is a story that should have been covered and was not or if you have criticism or concerns about our coverage, the best way to voice your opinion directly is through a Letter to the Editor.
Please send an email with “Letter to the Editor” in the subject line to thexavieritenewspaper@gmail.com
If you are a student be sure to include your name and major in the email. If you are a member of the staff or faculty be sure to provide your name and title/position.
We are always searching for feedback. All thoughts and opinions are greatly appreciated.
Letters may be edited for content if they contain profanity, libel or do not otherwise correspond with ethical practices in journalism.
Letters may also be printed at the editor’s discretion.