Gearing up for graduation

With more than 5,800 students eligible to graduate, about 4,500 are expected to walk across the stage in cap and gown Saturday. Two commencement ceremonies will take place at Assembly Hall, one at 10 a.m. and the second at 3 p.m.

Assistant director of ceremonies Terri Crouch said the University bases its estimate on cap and gown reservations, but some students do not always show.

Crouch also said because seniors are allowed to bring as many guests as they want, it is hard to give an exact number of Bloomington visitors they’re expecting for the event. But based on history, it will probably be a full house.

“Assembly Hall seats 17,000,” Crouch said. “Both sessions are, usually, nearly full, but that’s including graduates.”

With a large number of people descending on the campus, IU Police Department Capt. Jerry Minger said the police will take the usual precautions.

“Every event that draws a large amount of people, in general, we have security plans,” Minger said.

Like other events that bring crowds to IU, such as football and basketball games, Minger said parking is an issue, so it’s a good idea to arrive early.

But Minger said commencement differs from sporting events because people tend to come to campus to enjoy the time of graduation with their families instead of coming at the last minute.

“Festivities around graduation generally start earlier on a personal level,” Minger said. “Parking isn’t quite the issue we have before an athletic event.”

One security issue Minger said IUPD is concerned about is the number of older adults who come to see relatives graduate but might need medical attention.

Minger said it is best for anyone who has such a problem to call 911 or the IUPD administrative number, 855-4111.

While not all graduates choose to attend commencement, senior Kathryn Perkins said she wants to walk across the stage for her family members and to mark the end of her college career.

Perkins said she will not receive her degree from the IU School of Education until December when she finishes student teaching in Chicago.

“I need some closure because I’ve been having a hard time leaving,” Perkins said. “I’ve grown up a lot in Bloomington, so it’s kind of scary to go somewhere else.”

Perkins said the time of graduation is bittersweet. Her parents, both IU alumni, are excited for her to graduate but understand her mixed feelings because they experienced the same process.

“My mom said she cried all the way back from Bloomington,” Perkins said.