Seniors ready for Spring graduation

One of the last duties of an M-Card is to identify the graduating students for commencement exercises ticket rationing process.

Students participating in Spring Commencement on May 1 at 9:30 a.m. in Michigan Stadium and University Graduation Exercises on April 30 at 3 p.m. who want tickets for friends and family should report to the Michigan Union Pond Room from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. April 26 to 29 to pick up tickets.

Graduate students also may pick up their tickets in the lobby of the Rackham Building on April 27 and 28 from 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.

Each bachelor's degree candidate is eligible for eight tickets and each graduate degree candidate is eligible for four. Extra tickets, if available, will be issued on a first-come, first-serve basis the morning of April 30.

Faculty, staff, non-graduating students and community members wishing to attend the exercises should go to the Michigan Union Ticket Office April 29 and 30 from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.

In the event of rain, Spring Commencement exercises will remain in the stadium and graduating students will receive two "rain" tickets for spectator seating in Crisler Arena, where viewers will be able to watch the commencement on the large video screens free from the poor weather.

The traditional commencement procession from Elbel Field to Michigan Stadium is part of Senior Days, a series of activities for graduates that began in March and lead up to the procession the morning of May 1 to the field.

That morning, Senior Days also hosts a speaker - this year's is currently unknown - and breakfast bagels.

Yesterday, Senior Days sponsored live music and a "Titanic" slide on the Diag. Today, students can play on a Moonwalk and a Velcro obstacle course and will be served popcorn and cotton candy, said Senior Days coordinator Meredith Long, an LSA senior.

"It was a very positive response," Long said of the activities.

Secretary-General of the United Nations Kofi Annan is scheduled to speak to the crowd at Michigan Stadium at Spring Commencement on May 1.

During this time, all honorary degrees will be awarded and all undergraduate bachelor's degree candidates will be honored.

Shirley Malcom, the director of education and human resources at the American Association for the Advancement of Science, is scheduled to speak at the University Graduate Exercises honoring doctoral candidates and master's degree candidates in Hill Auditorium April 30.

Other honorary degree recipients are Chief Justice of the Supreme Court of Israel Aharon Barak and Indonesian author Anata Toer.

04-20-99