I am writing this letter in response to the Faculty Senate’s recent vote on commencement honor cord regulations and their vote to hold an addition ceremony for those with honor cords. I think it is ridiculous to hold another ceremony in the middle of budget cuts. Another commencement ceremony just to honor those with cords and stoles is unnecessary when these adornments could just be worn at the main ceremony. I also do not understand why the faculty senate is becoming involved in this matter. Wearing honor cords in no way affects the faculty. Faculty Senate President Kevin Cope was quoted in an article in Thursday’s edition of The Daily Reveille as saying “[Commencement should be] a moment of happiness to parents of those students and perhaps even grandparents of those students who came through with a D+ average [and who have no cords to wear].” I, however, believe the contrary. Commencement should be a celebration of all graduates and all of their University accomplishments. The University and its faculty should be proud of its high-achieving students, especially in the midst of extreme budget cuts when our own governor does not see the value of our University. All honors that students have earned are very much proof of the high value of our LSU education. Let’s prove our governor wrong and proudly display all of our honors at the main commencement ceremony.
 
Courtney Mumphrey
biological sciences senior
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