I recently sent this email out to Dean Davis. Please e-mail, call, or talk with him in person about changing the 2 seat rule. I am sure that I am not the only one who would greatly appreciate your effort. We deserve to celebrate without constraint (or at least a lesser one)!

Dean Davis,

I received an e-mail a few minutes ago regarding April graduation and that we would only be permitted to bring 2 guests to our graduation. I am e-mailing you now to advocate that this limited accommodation be reconsidered. I personally have worked hard, exceptionally hard, for this degree and I have no doubt that all of my classmates would share a similar sentiment.

Personally speaking, I am the first of my family members to receive a masters level degree of any known generation. I travel four and a half hours to come to class one day a week so I can learn how to best serve my rural community that is now, more than ever, in need of educated, compassionate, evidence based, best practice services. I am a full time student that is giving it my all for this degree and what it represents, and as a child of divorce, someone who has a significant other, and other family and friends that would love to join this celebration, two seats do not suffice in order to celebrate this occasion to the level I feel I have not only worked for but have also paid a great deal for.

I hope that my fellow social workers will also email, write, call or talk with you in person and convey their sentiments, but I ask that we please not be limited to two seats. We are social workers and I know that we can surely find another way to accommodate our loved ones, and pay the proper respect to this student body that will be graduating in April that we so deserve.



Sincerely,

Kelly Berthold