Off they go

The end of an era will come for more than 7,000 people at Saturday's commencement, and there will be more than the simple switch of the tassel for these soon-to-be graduates. \nIn total, 15,639 graduates will be eligible for degrees from IU at all five of the campuses while 7,121 degrees will be split into two ceremonies which will take place at 10 a.m. and 3 p.m. Former Indiana first lady Judy O'Bannon will serve as the speaker at both ceremonies.\nThe 10 a.m. ceremony will consist of diploma recipients from both the undergraduates and graduates in the Kelley School of Business, Education, Health, Physical Education and Recreation, Law, Music, Public, Environmental Affairs and the Social Work schools.The latter ceremony includes graduates from the College of Arts and Sciences, Continuing Studies, Informatics, Journalism, Library and Information Science and Optometry schools. The Division of Labor Studies will also take part in the 3 p.m. event.\nIU Dean of Students Richard McKaig said O'Bannon's speech will be what most will look back upon at this particular commencement.\n"I think the selection of Judy O'Bannon as a speaker was a great decision and I'm looking forward to hearing her speech," McKaig said. "This commencement will bring some closure for our students because all of our graduates and their friends, their brothers, sisters, aunts, uncles make big family events out of each and every Commencement." \nMcKaig said the setup of the event was a massive undertaking from numerous departments in the university, from contacting senior students to printing pamphlets to the set-up of Assembly Hall for the ceremony itself.\n"For some people at the alumni office, the board of trustees and others, the graduation ceremony is a considerable amount of work," McKaig said. "There's all of the notification and getting information out about the ceremony, there's the scheduling of honorary degrees, among other things. It's a major undertaking right down to the physical plant because they've got to set up the stage and all of the chairs. There are all those things that need to be ultimately done before any of us will even get to sit down for the ceremony."\nOutgoing students won't be the only ones receiving degrees as nine individuals will also be given honorary degrees from IU at all five of the campuses. Commencement speaker Judy O'Bannon will receive an honorary doctorate in Humane Letters. IU Professor Emeritus of Geological Studies Haydn Murray will join O'Bannon in the IU-Bloomington ceremony while IU-Bloomington graduate and radio and television personality Tavis Smiley will get a honorary degree from IU-Kokomo. \nFor most students the ceremony will represent the end of an era in their life. IU senior Jason Rutherford said the ceremony will provide some welcome closure for his college career.\n"(Graduating) feels like a weight has been lifted off my chest," Rutherford said. "It's because I need to change and graduation allows me to do that. I've been in the midwest my whole I need to leave."\nWhile students like Rutherford cannot wait to get out of the Bloomington area, some students feel an attachment both to IU and the friends they've made during their tenure at the University.\n"My experience here has been great," IU senior Lynsey Comess said. "I've met a lot of great people during my time here and the academics are second to none. It's been wonderful experience and I would never go anywhere else." \nMcKaig said he wishes good luck to the members of the outgoing class of 2004 in all of their future endeavors.\n"The message we have for each and every class is good luck in the future," McKaig said. "We want the students to remember Indiana University and the friends you have made here."\n-- Contact managing editor Dan Patrick at djpatric@indiana.edu.