U of M administrators announced that the class of 2008 will have its graduation ceremony at Eastern Michigan University's Rynearson Stadium on April 26. The administration claims that this is due to Michigan Stadium's reconstruction and some public restrooms will not be available for use.

Isn't there some way for us to graduate in OUR stadium instead of in Ypsilanti? For the past four years, we have all been looking forward to getting our diplomas at Michigan Stadium - the same place where hundreds of thousands of Wolverines before us moved on from college to the real world. To graduate from U of M, a grand institution that stands for tradition and lifelong loyalty to Alma Mater, from a venue outside of Ann Arbor - the college town we love and have come to call home - is unacceptable. Students and Alumni need to put pressure on the Administration to ensure that we complete our Michigan education in our beloved stadium.

I will be writing a letter to the Ann Arbor News and other area newspapers to express my sentiments about this. I hope you decide to write a letter too. Encourage your parents and relatives (especially if they are Michigan alumni) to write to the newspapers, University officials, and UM Alumni Association as well.

Together, we can bring our commencement ceremony back to where it belongs - the BIG HOUSE!

Here is where to submit a letter to the Ann Arbor News: http://www.mlive.com/mailforms/aanews/letters/

Here is the e-mail address for the Detroit News: letters@detnews.com

And the Detroit Free Press:
http://freep.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=999950926009

Here are some e-mail addresses of key University officials. Please write them and respectfully tell them that you would like to get your diploma at Michigan Stadium!


President Coleman - marysuec@umich.edu
Vice President Harper - harperer@umich.edu
Provost Sullivan - tsull@umich.edu
Regent Andrea Fishcer Newman- afnewman@umich.edu
Regent Maynard- omaynard@umich.edu
Regent Deitch- ldeitch@umich.edu
Regent White- kewhite@umich.edu
Regent Taylor- taylorsm@umich.edu
Regent Richner- richner@umich.edu


Airfare for family to come to Ann Arbor: $450
Hotel room for the weekend in Ann Arbor: $300
Four years of Out-of-state tuition: $120,000
Getting my degree in EMU's Stadium: WORTHLESS





Please take time to sign the petition set up by MSA here:
http://www.bighousegraduation.com/ (read less)

U of M administrators announced that the class of 2008 will have its graduation ceremony at Eastern Michigan University's Rynearson Stadium on April 26. The administration claims that this is due to Michigan Stadium's reconstruction and some public restrooms will not be available for use.

Isn't there some way for us to graduate in OUR stadium instead of in Ypsilanti? For the past four years, we have all been looking forward to getting our diplomas at Michigan Stadium - the same place where... (read more)