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opinion:
our view
No
circus at commencement
Director Steven Spielberg is going to be in cap and gown at
graduation ceremonies on Friday, May 31, sitting with other
graduates from the College of the Arts. More than 30 years
after enrolling and subsequently dropping out of Cal State
Long Beach, Spielberg returned and has completed his bachelor
of arts degree in film and media arts through independent
study.
Spielberg should be applauded for his show of determination
in finishing something that he started so long ago. It is
apparent that he does not need a degree to further his career.
Spielberg is planning on sitting with the general student
population at commencement and will give no speech. He said
he wants to be considered nothing more than a normal graduate
for the two-hour ceremony.
But we fear that is not the way it shall be.
Spielberg's graduation plans have shown up in almost every
major publication and on every entertainment-based television
show. Surely representatives from all of these same media
outlets will be on hand at commencement to document the occasion.
We have a problem with this.
The mass attention that Spielberg's graduation is attracting
is doing nothing more than taking quite a bit away from every
other senior that is graduating that Friday.
The possibility that parents, family and friends of otherwise
normal graduates may be without seats because of an overabundance
of media representatives is somewhat disturbing.
Commencement is a ceremony that is meant to equally honor
all graduates, not just one.
It is wonderful that Spielberg is doing what he is and in
no way do we think that he should be denied the chance to
walk with fellow graduates at commencement ceremonies. They
have all earned that right.
But we do urge university officials to seriously limit the
amount of media and other looky-loos who want nothing more
than to see a celebrity in the flesh. Equal honor should be
afforded to all graduates, not just famous ones.
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