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Post by hchoops on Apr 7, 2022 11:35:59 GMT -5
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Post by Chu Chu on Apr 7, 2022 12:14:13 GMT -5
I am surprised and very pleased to see that Dr. Abraham Verghese has been chosen for our Holy Cross commencement speaker this year, and that he will be awarded an honorary degree. His personal story is amazing, his novel "Cutting for Stone" is a towering achievement (most engrossing book I have ever read), and his pioneering work at Stanford Medical School is helping to restore the importance of physical examination and critical thinking in medical education, during our era of wiz-bang technology and artificial intelligence. Taken together with our honoring of Dr. Fauci, Holy Cross is highlighting the importance of honest, ethical, personal and expert medicine as an expression of "men and women for others"!
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Post by Bleed Purple on Apr 7, 2022 13:55:44 GMT -5
While I am pleased with the selection of Dr Verghese as commencement speaker, I am disappointed that the college chooses to conduct the ceremony in the dreary, anonymous DCU center. The aesthetics of a Fitton graduation are far superior to anything the DCU can offer, imho. The post graduation photo ops at the DCU will be in front of local liquor or convenience stores vs the Fenwick Hall and St Joseph's chapel. Ugh. I care because my daughter graduates this year and I was so hoping they would do it at Fitton again this year as they did in 2021. I know all my daughters friends would prefer Fitton to DCU. I am sure there is some compelling reason to do it a DCU instead of Fitton.
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Post by Pakachoag Phreek on Apr 7, 2022 14:53:08 GMT -5
I do not know why it is not at Fitton. A possible explanation is that new construction will be underway on the upper campus for the new residence halls and the playing fields. Both are on very tight construction schedules.
My recollection is that the Hart was the fallback in the event of inclement weather when commencement was scheduled for Fitton. ------------------------------- They have erected a large tent on the Hoval. As it won't be needed for commencement, must be for Reunions.
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Post by bfoley82 on Apr 7, 2022 20:36:01 GMT -5
While I am pleased with the selection of Dr Verghese as commencement speaker, I am disappointed that the college chooses to conduct the ceremony in the dreary, anonymous DCU center. The aesthetics of a Fitton graduation are far superior to anything the DCU can offer, imho. The post graduation photo ops at the DCU will be in front of local liquor or convenience stores vs the Fenwick Hall and St Joseph's chapel. Ugh. I care because my daughter graduates this year and I was so hoping they would do it at Fitton again this year as they did in 2021. I know all my daughters friends would prefer Fitton to DCU. I am sure there is some compelling reason to do it a DCU instead of Fitton. As someone that had his college graduation in a monsoon. Have it indoors to be safe! I think the DCU is awful though.
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Post by Crucis#1 on Apr 7, 2022 21:34:18 GMT -5
Fitton does not have sufficient ADA access for grandparents.
Speaking as a grandparent not quite of grandchild of college age yet, when they are ready to walk across a commencement stage, my wife, their grandmother, would certainly would like a facility more accessible and comfortable than the current stands of Fitton Field, which is great for the Saturday afternoon game.
Demographic for Football at Fitton is fine. Demographic for Commencement at Fitton, not so much as the only ADA lift is on the I290 side of the building.
Fitton needs a major overhaul for it to be a suitable for Commencement. Ramps, Chair back seats, elevators on the side where the graduation parents and guest can properly view the ceremony, covered areas to avoid heat, sun and and a unexpected sprinkle, and most importantly multiple bathrooms with ADA access. Currently, Hanover Park at Fitton is a more suitable access for Commencement than the Football Stadium.
Maybe in 20 years, Commencement can return to the Fitton Field after reconstruction.
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Post by Tom on Apr 8, 2022 14:59:17 GMT -5
I do not know why it is not at Fitton. A possible explanation is that new construction will be underway on the upper campus for the new residence halls and the playing fields. Both are on very tight construction schedules. My recollection is that the Hart was the fallback in the event of inclement weather when commencement was scheduled for Fitton. ------------------------------- They have erected a large tent on the Hoval. As it won't be needed for commencement, must be for Reunions. When Hart was undergoing expansion, it was not a bad weather option, so the school lined up the Centrum. Unlike Hart, you can't just have the Centrum on standby and make the decision the night before, so it went to Centrum rain or shine. I thought they would move it back when Hart became an option again but apparently not. In terms of ADA, I would think Fitton would be fine for wheel chairs. Not that hard to bring a wheel chair though a gate from the baseball field and park it on the 20 yard line beside where the students sit. More than enough room to cover people who actually have a placard and one family member. For those who are advanced in age, but not quite ready for a wheel chair, it might be tough sitting in a bleacher for a couple of hours
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Post by newfieguy74 on Apr 8, 2022 15:17:44 GMT -5
Bishop McManus has announced he will not attend HC's commencement. Addition by subtraction.
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Post by Chu Chu on Apr 8, 2022 22:53:55 GMT -5
When my daughter graduated, the graduation ceremony was scheduled for Fitton Field. Unfortunately, nature did not co-operate that day, and the Hart Center become the default location. It was a problem because not everyone could be accommodated. As I recall, each graduate could only have two persons attend, and the overflow was a real problem. My wife and I could be there, but our assembled diaspora was out of luck. Using the Centrum avoids this kind of problem. In addition, using an off campus venue like the Centrum is probably a good thing for community relations, but certainly not ideal.
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Post by HC92 on Apr 12, 2022 13:14:40 GMT -5
Best case would be graduation at Fitton with DCU as a rain option. There are some obvious practical problems with that including potentially having to pay a hefty sum to hold a building we may not use. Maybe we could agree to a hoop and/or hockey game each year with a side deal that we get to hold a date for graduation for a reasonable sum without paying the full rental freight unless we actually use it.
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Post by HC92 on Apr 12, 2022 13:16:11 GMT -5
It does seem the new indoor practice facility could hold a lot of overflow if we had to do it in the Hart and broadcast it to other parts of campus.
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Post by Crucis#1 on Apr 13, 2022 15:03:15 GMT -5
There is nothing like seeing your son, daughter, sister, brother, grandkids actually walk across the stage live.
While watching on video is fulfilling, “ There ain’t nothing like the real thing, baby”.
DCU capacity provides the accommodation across the family demographic.
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Post by CHC8485 on Apr 13, 2022 20:08:22 GMT -5
Gotta disagree Crucis. Having done it twice, with the Jumbotron in the DCU, you're generally still watching them cross the stage on video. Sightlines to the stage are not great. Post ceremony reception was congested, cramped, and impersonal at the DCU - though it was good to see you at the 2019 reception.
The ceremony was supposedly moved for 2 years only due to Luth construction - 7 years later it still off campus. The 2016 Baccalaureate Mass was on the baseball field and they used maybe 40% of the baseball field. 2019 Baccalaureate Mass was on the football field and they used maybe 30% of the field. Graduates plus familes.
Many colleges hold graduation on the flat lawn of a common - like Fordham's Edward's parade. We have a full sized football field under a roof, a luxury most college's do not enjoy. Make the appropriate changes to Fitton to make it handicap accessible - a full renovation is not required if the only thing you are doing is making accessibility renovations. Set up the Luth Football field with a stage and rent big screens and hold graduation there if it rains.
Get graduation back on campus ... permanently.
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Post by Crucis#1 on Apr 13, 2022 21:56:31 GMT -5
When Fitton is made ADA accessible, with the appropriate accommodations for the handicapped including restrooms, I will be pleased to see graduation back on campus. Currently it is a very difficult venue for a person with mobility issues to navigate.
Good point regarding The IPF. It would allow guest to fully view the stage from the second level, including inside the Smith Performance Center, as well as having ADA access to restroom facilities readily available
It was a pleasure to spend time with your family at the post commencement reception.😊
Hope these changes will be made within the next decade.
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Post by Pakachoag Phreek on Apr 14, 2022 9:02:10 GMT -5
The turf field at the Luth is rated for 6,500 seats, IIRC the life safety specs. Two flies in the ointment with respect to using Luth: not enough restrooms for 6,500; no space for a post-commencement reception.
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Post by hc89 on Apr 14, 2022 11:37:25 GMT -5
So grateful that my eldest son, HC Class of 2021, had his commencement ceremony at Fitton Field and not at The Centrum. We are a small enough community (and hopefully wise and thoughtful enough) to figure out a way to hold our commencement ON CAMPUS where it belongs.
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