Huh? Graduating Oakridge residents forced to check out before commencement

By C. Jake Williams

May 2, 2008 | Graduating residents at Oakridge Student Community, at 1355 N. 800 East, are required to check out of their apartments before hearing their names called during commencement ceremonies.

It's a major inconvenience for those graduating, who must choose between storing their possessions somewhere for up to six hours after vacating their apartments or missing individual college commencement ceremonies.

The question must be asked: If a "student community" is not sensitive to graduation concerns, what is it sensitive to?

Check-out time for Oakridge residents not staying the summer in their current apartments is noon Saturday, exactly the time that individual college commencement ceremonies kickoff.

Some start later. The Colleges of Agriculture or Education and Human Rervices ceremoniously commence at 2 p.m. The College of Humanities, Arts and Social Sciences starts its commencement at 4 p.m.

Am I missing something here?

Isn't graduation the goal in college?

Shouldn't a housing complex dedicated to providing residence for college students encourage the achievement of that goal?

Shouldn't Oakridge allow its graduating inhabitants the opportunity to enjoy one of the proudest days of their lives?

A four-year Oakridge resident will pay the complex more than 10 grand during his or her college career. You'd think Oakridge could afford to give them one extra day for their money.

You'd think.

Sometime after 4 p.m. Saturday, someone will read my name aloud, but my Oakridge Student Community room must be empty and clean by noon.

This is a major inconvenience on a proud day.

And so I ask again: If Oakridge Student Community isn't sensitive to graduation, just what the hell is it sensitive to?

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