OUR VIEWS Consensus Opinion

Due to the record size of this year's graduating class, the undergraduate and graduate commencement ceremonies will be held together at the Georgia Dome instead of at Alexander Memorial Coliseum. Before reaching its decision, the administration had considered holding separate undergraduate ceremonies by college, allocating a set number of tickets to students and moving it to Grant Field. Based on the possible options, it is clear that the administration has come to the best decision for students and their families.

While some may be disappointed about not being able to graduate in the same venue in which their Freshman Convocation was held, the move was necessary in order to accommodate all students and their families. The Coliseum had simply reached capacity at past ceremonies. A ticketing system would have been unfair to students with large families. Additionally, the administration was wise to decide to pay more money to hold the ceremony in an enclosed facility than to have it outdoors at Grant Field. An outdoor commencement would have faced the potential for rain or for hot, uncomfortable weather.

By having it at the Dome, undergraduates and graduates will have a chance to shake President Clough's hand in front of the entire Tech community, not just their individual college.