2008 Woodie Awards
Convocations
Sitting in the back because of how we act
Ramsey Crawford
Issue date: 2/19/04 Section: Opinions
- Page 1 of 1
This year Lakeland students have been placed in a compromising position, the back seats in the Bradley auditorium at certain convocations.
Several students feel that having to sit in the back is unfair, seeing as they pay to come to this college, and are required to attend convocations to graduate. Others say that it's more difficult for those interested in the convocation to gain from it when they have to sit in the back rows. Also heard is the opinion that Lakeland College is our home, and we students should be treated better than the general public, therefore we should get first priority for convocation seating. While these may be valid statements, the reason students are put in the back is difficult to ignore.
Some students seem to have a problem behaving at convocations. All too often, students will show up to a convocation lecture and, instead of paying attention to the speaker, will do homework, chat with friends, or just sleep. Those who attend convocations for enjoyment and to gain something from the experience should be entitled to do so in peace, but instead they have to put up with rowdy or talkative students sitting near them.
In addition, students get to attend these events for free while the public has to pay.
"The entertainment we had this year has been highly sought after by the general public," says Debra Fale a convocations coordinator, "and since they are paying $12.00/ticket I feel they should be able to see the entertainment without watching a student with a head set on..."
In the case of the recent Gaelic Storm concert the auditorium was packed with people, many not from Lakeland College, yet there were still a few empty seats in the back rows where the students had tickets. Each empty seat was another $12 the college could have made or a place for a student to sit who actually wanted to show up but couldn't because the tickets were sold out. It isn't exactly like there weren't people who would've bought them.
Think of this year as probation, the consequences of a few students' behavior unfortunately applies to us all. We have, in the past, proven to be quite a poor and disrespectful audience to speakers invited to Lakeland. If we are able to prove that we students can all behave at convocations, next year we should be able to sit wherever we like, assuming we can show and continue the good behavior.
Several students feel that having to sit in the back is unfair, seeing as they pay to come to this college, and are required to attend convocations to graduate. Others say that it's more difficult for those interested in the convocation to gain from it when they have to sit in the back rows. Also heard is the opinion that Lakeland College is our home, and we students should be treated better than the general public, therefore we should get first priority for convocation seating. While these may be valid statements, the reason students are put in the back is difficult to ignore.
Some students seem to have a problem behaving at convocations. All too often, students will show up to a convocation lecture and, instead of paying attention to the speaker, will do homework, chat with friends, or just sleep. Those who attend convocations for enjoyment and to gain something from the experience should be entitled to do so in peace, but instead they have to put up with rowdy or talkative students sitting near them.
In addition, students get to attend these events for free while the public has to pay.
"The entertainment we had this year has been highly sought after by the general public," says Debra Fale a convocations coordinator, "and since they are paying $12.00/ticket I feel they should be able to see the entertainment without watching a student with a head set on..."
In the case of the recent Gaelic Storm concert the auditorium was packed with people, many not from Lakeland College, yet there were still a few empty seats in the back rows where the students had tickets. Each empty seat was another $12 the college could have made or a place for a student to sit who actually wanted to show up but couldn't because the tickets were sold out. It isn't exactly like there weren't people who would've bought them.
Think of this year as probation, the consequences of a few students' behavior unfortunately applies to us all. We have, in the past, proven to be quite a poor and disrespectful audience to speakers invited to Lakeland. If we are able to prove that we students can all behave at convocations, next year we should be able to sit wherever we like, assuming we can show and continue the good behavior.