How to tell when Commencement is just around the corner
I’ve stayed on campus after it empties out before, but this year is my first time staying for Commencement here at Vanderbilt, and there are a few ways in which the campus starts to shift in preparation for this big event. Thus, I present to you yet another list post, entitled “5 Ways to Tell Commencement is Just Around the Corner” (Confession: I wrote this before Commencement but am just now getting around to posting it. Don’t worry, it’s all still true.):
1. White tents begin to crop up overnight. I was walking back to my dorm one evening, only to realize I was under a tent. White tents spring up on nearly every nearby quad and lawn.
2. Chairs appear. Everywhere. Many of the white tents get this treatment–there are rows and rows of chairs lining the grass under them in an organized fashion. This is most evident on Alumni Lawn, where there is literally a chair in every nook and cranny–because that’s where the main graduation ceremony takes place.
3. Odd structures begin to appear. These structures mostly take the form of stages, but they aren’t always immediately identifiable as such. The biggest example of this again appears on Alumni Lawn, where the main stage is being built. Today they also began erecting what seem to be towers to hold speakers.
4. The amount of people on campus changes drastically and quickly. First, campus was empty and desolate–I barely saw anyone upon our return from Kentucky. However, as Commencement nears people are beginning to flood back onto campus–particularly seniors and their families.
5. Underclassmen are few and far between. Most of my friends are long gone, and I only have one freshmen friend who’s still in Nashville. In contrast, most of the seniors return today and I know a good amount of juniors who have stuck around.
It’s always interesting to be a part of the ebb and flow of a college campus, and Commencement is just another Vanderbilt event that I was excited I got to experience. Look for the observer’s perspective of what went down on the big day, coming in blog post format soon!