The entire Elizabethtown College campus community – students, faculty, staff and administrators – was flabbergasted this week when the Commencement Committee announced a decision to move the ceremonies May 15 and 16 from the Dell to Nicarry 232. The change comes only three weeks after the March 10 announcement clarifying COVID-19 compliant commencement exercises, which included four separate ceremonies over two days and a contracted finals-to-commencement period. What went into this snap decision and circumvention of normal College processes? This staff writer sought out to investigate.
Sitting down with Commencement Committee member and Chief Head Usher Ben Osterhout, some additional details about the change were revealed. Osterhout told the Etownian that the room was chosen because “the first Commencement of the College was held on the exact GPS coordinates of [the] Nicarry 232 classroom.” Beyond its history, the Chief Head Usher also holds an emotional attachment to the space, as he and his wife were married in 232 a few years ago: “We had the opportunity to marry at the gazebo by the Young Center or The Dell, but we both felt so emotional about Nicarry 232 that we declined using the other spaces.”
Upon entering Nicarry 232, one can feel the historical and academic aura of the room, a fitting atmosphere for commencement activities. Yet, the room would not be COVID-compliant for multiple families during the ceremonies. When asked if the tables and chairs would be removed to accommodate for more space, the committee decided that they would not because it would disturb the ambiance of the historic and emotional place. Rather, each student will be provided with only one ticket and asked to come in and sit at the table. The remaining space, according to Osterhout, will be reserved for special guests of the College: “only the most prestigious of our faculty and staff but most importantly Truman will be officiating.”
When asked why the change occurred, the committee claims it was a student driven initiative, responding to the Student Senate Traditions Committee’s request for a change of venue. However, this claim by the Chief Head Usher cannot be independently verified by the Etownian.
Seniors and graduates have had mixed reactions to a Nicarry 232 commencement. Some, like senior computer science major Sarah Fake, believe that the room will relieve traffic issues, despite the difficulty finding the room presents. “Although the stress of navigating through Nicarry matches that of a maze, Nicarry 232 is located far enough from the vending machines, so I don’t believe there will be too much congestion as attendees seek out refreshments before and after the ceremonies,” Fake said.
Like Osterhout, some students have emotional attachments to the classroom, including senior communications major Giovanni Zapata: “I’m so excited to be graduating in Nicarry 232! It’s crazy to think that our Etown journeys are coming to an end in that particular room. Funny story, I actually met my long lost twin on my first day of classes in that room. It was ‘The Parent Trap’ all over again! Now we get to graduate together! #BestieVibez.”
Even graduate students seem excited about the change. Occupational therapy graduate student Julia Aleo added, “I’m not quite sure where Nicarry 232 is, but I’m excited to walk across that windowless classroom’s carpet” and that she’s been dreaming about it for her entire Etown career. She also added that this special commencement will “bring back wonderful memories of all the exams I cried over in Nicarry.”
Despite the location change, it seems like this will be a commencement like no other. Congratulations to all the seniors and graduate students in the Class of 2021! The Etownian is looking forward to celebrating your achievements in Nicarry 232 May 15 and 16!
