As a student graduating with honors this May, I am extremely disappointed that the ceremony has been moved from Francis Quadrangle to Mizzou Arena. I know many of my fellow students and I have worked hard for the privilege to receive our diplomas in front of the columns. Personally, I don’t buy the university’s reasoning for moving the ceremony. Last year, 6,500 people attended the honors graduation ceremony; yet in 2010, 18,000 people attended College Gameday’s appearance on the Quad – along with an ESPN stage and camera crews. Obviously the quad has the capacity for far more people than have historically attended the honors graduation. I think the ceremony has been moved as a way to reduce costs related to repairing the Quad after graduation. I think the university should reconsider the change, because it gives a sour last impression to the school’s best students.

**John Field,**

**jsf98f@mail.missouri.edu**