To: Gerry McCormac
BETTER LOCATION FOR STIRLING GRADUATION 2017/18
In 1967/68, University of Stirling welcomed its first group of students. In 2017/18, it will be 50 years since that year, and the university should have the pride to show itself to be a university of heritage, passion and innovation.
There have been many discussions around cutting graduation fees for graduands. However, as this appears to be a slow process, why not put the money towards hiring a far better location?
Stirling is a laughing stock amongst students from its own halls and from those at other institutions for allowing its students to graduate from nothing but a tennis centre.
Thus, I propose the June graduation ceremony for 2017/18 to be held in Stirling Castle or Dunblane Cathedral.
Why is this important?
The University of Stirling should take the opportunity of its 50th anniversary to allow its students to graduate from somewhere far more interesting than a sports centre tennis hall. It is, frankly, disrespectful to its graduands to do so.
Stirling Castle has a main hall and a church that could accommodate - if not as many - an acceptable number of attendees. Arrangements could easily be made to allow for more guests to attend the ceremony. Furthermore, as such an iconic part of Stirling, how better to integrate the university with its surrounding city than this?
Dunblane Cathedral is a far larger location, which would be perfectly suited for this occasion. However, it is obviously a religious setting and slightly removed from the campus. Practicality deems it a better place for size, but there are problems that may be a hindrance.
