Graduation, not venue, key to memories

Benton High School's Class of 2008 is forging a new tradition.

After an informal class vote, officers developed a well-prepared presentation of pros and cons of holding the graduation ceremony indoors in Little Rock or North Little Rock. The alternative was to continue facing the whims of Mother Nature at an outdoor commencement ceremony.

After a month's consideration, Benton School Board approved holding graduation at University of Arkansas at Little Rock's Jack Stephens Center.

While it would be nice to have an indoor facility in Benton large enough to host the ceremony, students realized they would have to find a larger building.

C.W. Lewis Stadium is large enough for all relatives and guests to see their loved one enter a new journey in life. But when rain or severe weather strikes, there's no suitable facility in Saline County.

BHS' Butler Auditorium is attractive, but isn't large enough for all commencement guests.

Benton High School Arena, unfortunately, is barely suitable for basketball, and doesn't provide a satisfactory "arena" for the ceremony.

UALR promises to be a gracious host. Chancellor Joel Anderson is excited to have large numbers of Saline County residents visiting the campus, and pledged to charge no more than Benton School District's estimated $2,500 cost of holding graduation at C.W. Lewis. The senior class is footing the bill.

Jack Stephens Center is an outstanding facility with excellent acoustics. Guests will have a good view of their favorite graduate at the ceremony.

Additionally, students who might be borderline on attending college may be swayed to attend UALR, or even another university, after seeing the fine campus.

Some community members have bemoaned the "loss of tradition" in the move. We should allow the seniors, who will soon be stepping out into the world, to express their preference of commencement site.

Perhaps the seniors don't give a whit about tradition, or perhaps they simply want all their loved ones to be able to watch them graduate.

It's very disappointing for family members to come to graduation, only to be told they can't watch the ceremony directly, because of lack of space. Such is the situation when commencement must be moved to the high school campus.

Seniors, adorned in caps and gowns, tassels flowing, will be forging a new tradition as they proudly stroll across the Stephens Center floor to receive their sheepskin.

It's likely that a classy events center, advocated by Benton Advertising and Promotion Commission, will be built in the city within a few years.

It will be a fine successor to the new tradition established at the Stephens Center, but until then, we think the Class of 2008 made a wise choice.