December Graduates Prepare to Walk

While most undergraduates will be on a three-week hiatus from classes, a handful of seniors will return to campus for UNC's December Commencement ceremony.

"Everyone is on break when we graduate," said Nolan Beall, a psychology and political science major who will be graduating in December.

"We are on break too, but it's a more permanent break."

December Commencement, which will take place at 2 p.m. Dec. 20 at the Smith Center, is notably smaller than UNC's traditional May Commencement ceremony.

In May 2002, there were more than 4,000 degree-seeking candidates.

Although the December Commencement ceremony also includes August graduates, it remains relatively small in comparison to May Commencement. About 1,052 seniors will receive their degrees at the December ceremonies.

"Sometimes I feel like I'm the only one graduating," said Salman Yusaf, a business major planning on graduating this month.

Jane Smith, associate director of University events, said the December Commencement's smaller size is the reason the ceremony does not take place at Kenan Stadium.

"More students simply complete degrees in May, so number-wise, the Dean Smith Center better accommodates the December graduates," Smith said.

Ayana Griffin, a communications major also planning on graduating this month, is quick to dismiss the perception that December Commencement often goes unnoticed.

"I see just as many announcements for December and feel well-prepared in terms of knowing what to do," Griffin said.

Yusaf thinks a premier public university such as UNC should have secured a speaker as highly touted as the May Commencement speaker.

Professor James Leloudis is scheduled to deliver the Commencement address at the December ceremony.

"Look at the Commencement speaker for May -- Bill Cosby," Yusaf said. "I don't even know who the December Commencement speaker is."

Leloudis, a 1977 UNC alumnus, serves as a history professor, associate dean for the Honors Program and director of the James M. Johnston Center for Undergraduate Excellence at UNC.

Elsabet Fisseha, a senior also graduating in December, said she thinks professors often deliver better addresses.

"I don't think that one speaker will do better job than another just because he is more famous," Fisseha said.

Yusaf said that despite the differences, there are perks to graduating in December.

Yusaf took summer classes to complete his major requirements in time for December graduation so he could travel and pursue an internship in the spring.

Because of less competition, Yusaf said he thinks it is easier for December graduates to get a job or internship.

Griffin, however, disagrees.

"Because of the economy and September 11, getting a job is difficult either way," she said."Although I think I am getting a head start."

Regardless of whether it's December or May, their accomplishments cannot be diminished.

They entered as undergraduates and will leave as UNC alumni.

The Features Editor can be reached at features@unc.edu.