A closer look: Departments vie for commencement spots

In 1973, UCLA’s commencement ceremony took place at Drake
Stadium including all graduating students. Though the venue seated
up to 11,000 people, 30,000 spectators showed up in the sweltering
heat to celebrate the event.

“It was polite to call it a zoo, and there were no
departmental ceremonies,” said John Sandbrook, a UCLA alumnus
and currently special assistant to the executive dean at the
College of Letters & Science.

Anticipating something similar to last year’s turnout of
over 80,000 people for this year’s commencement ceremonies,
finding space to house departmental celebrations and catering to
everyone’s needs can be a difficult task.

Prior to 2002, there were no departmental graduations, just four
divisional graduations within the UCLA College.

Over the years, students insisted on having departmental
graduations ““ a more intimate celebration involving marching,
the announcing of names, and hand shaking.

With over 40 events taking place during the commencement weekend
beginning June 18, locations for the celebrations depend on what is
available, the event’s size, and whether or not the
department is holding a reception afterward.

Departments and schools request locations and then attend a
number of meetings throughout the year in which a consensus is
finally reached, said Jack Raab, commencement coordinator with the
UCLA Events Office.

Generally, departments like to pick locations close to where
their department is housed, but depending on ceremony’s size,
this request cannot always be accommodated.

Four years ago, the psychology department wanted to hold its
ceremony by the inverted fountain, but due to the
department’s increasing size, its ceremony has now been moved
to Pauley Pavilion.

“Number of people we expect to come is based on number of
graduates; (this) gives us a good sense of what to expect,”
Sandbrook said.

Sandbrook, who works closely with Raab, said they try to work
toward indoor venues to keep guests in a more comfortable
environment.

A yearlong process with 1,000 people working toward the effort,
commencement weekend is the “single-largest event the
university produces,” Sandbrook said.

In the past, departments were moved around every year, but it
became too cumbersome, Raab said.

Two years ago, a multi-year schedule was implemented to break
away from this trend in such a way that departments, guests and
students could be placed in their desired locations. Raab hopes to
continue this schedule for the next few years to help continue a
smooth planning process.

After countless meetings and negotiations, both parties
generally tend to be pleased with the outcome of their assigned
locations, Raab said.

The English department has come a long way from its first
ceremonies, which took place in a meeting room where Northern
Lights is now located.

Eventually, the English department ceremony moved to the
Sculpture Garden, where they encountered a few mishaps.

“More and more people wanted to come and see this, so
people would drag the heavy chairs to see the ceremony ““ they
had to be dragged back and it took all day long,” said Janel
Munguia, undergraduate adviser for the department.

Now holding its ceremony in Pauley Pavilion, Munguia said the
department is happy and pleased even though the event has lost some
of its intimacy.

Professional schools, such as the Henry Samueli School of
Engineering and Applied Science, plan their commencement ceremonies
separately from the UCLA College, but in collaboration with the
Events Office.

Graduating students are generally happy with their graduation
locations.

“I like the fact that it is inside, especially when we are
wearing these outfits,” said Prem Adial, a graduating
electrical engineering student.

Maggie Lee, a graduating business and economics student, said it
would not matter either way because the most important part is
having her friends and family watching.

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