Imagine this: You’re walking across the stage to receive the diploma you worked so hard for on the Student Union lawn in Brownsville. The hot sun bounces off your decked-out graduation cap and you can hear the birds chirping in the trees almost as if they’re excited, too. Your name is called and your 17 cousins, three aunts, five uncles, longtime friends and parents erupt in cheers because they are so proud. As you walk back to your seat, you smile at the sea of people holding balloons, bouquets, giant cutouts of your peers’ faces. You take in the scenery one last time as the sun sets.
Sounds like a dream, right?
That was the reality legacy institution, UT Brownsville, and UTRGV gave students on the Brownsville campus the first three years.
When I first started my journey at UTRGV, the one thing I looked forward to the most was graduation, not because I wanted to get it over with but because I knew the beauty that awaited.
I found myself daydreaming of the day I’d receive my diploma, as my family and friends watched from the crowd, without worrying about tickets.
UTRGV is so big on wanting to establish and keep traditions. Well, graduation on the Student Union lawn had been a Brownsville tradition for almost 20 years and was taken from us in Spring 2019.
The ceremony was moved to Jacob Brown Auditorium in Brownsville where those graduating only had access to six tickets for their families.
Six tickets for a Hispanic family is a complete joke.
Now, the class of Fall 2019 will have to drive 28.2 miles to a city most of them have absolutely no attachment to, to receive a piece of paper worth thousands of dollars with, again, only six tickets.
The Jacob Brown Auditorium was booked, according to university officials.
Was the Student Union lawn booked, too?
Oh, it’s winter so it can get cold?
As my grandfather would say, ¡“No hace frío en Tejas”!
Why are we spending thousands of dollars booking fancy convention centers when we have one of the most beautiful sceneries on our own campus?
There’s a reason you see couples, quinceañeras and graduating students, people of all ages, having photoshoots across campus almost every weekend.
Weather is unpredictable; I get that. But why not have a backup plan just in case inclement weather is forecast?
Isn’t that how it used to work in the past? Or was weather not an issue back then?
Where is the consistency? It’s been five years, UTRGV. Get. It. Together.
I don’t graduate until Spring 2020 and I can tell you right now, I do not want to walk in Harlingen.
“It gets hot in the spring, why are you complaining?” some may ask.
Well, we live in the Rio Grande Valley, what do you expect?
I’d rather have a little sweat drip down my face while I receive my diploma out in the open than to have to pick and choose what six members of my family should get to see me graduate.
I don’t understand why more noise isn’t being made.
As a student, you shouldn’t have to settle for what you are told. Ask yourself, who makes these decisions? Why are these decisions being made? Why are you being informed of these ideas in the middle of the semester? Am I OK with this decision? Did they even consult students or is this the “Vaqueros” situation all over again?
Oh, did you think we’d forget?
Last time we checked, students voted for everything but the Vaquero, but that’s a whole different issue.
Your voice matters; you just have to speak out in places bigger than social media.
Brownsville is losing its identity.
First it was the Athletics events, then the class availability and now I might not even graduate on my own campus, in my own city.
Sadly, the new generations coming in might never experience how beautiful a graduation on the Student Union lawn can look or understand what the issue of the change actually represents.
I don’t expect everyone to understand my frustration. Edinburg, I would say you got an upgrade. Bert Ogden Arena and nine tickets? That sounds great!
This isn’t an issue of “Edinburg vs. Brownsville”; I think we’re over that and many departments are doing their best and a great job in building that bridge.
This is an issue with UTRGV and its administration; I’m talking to you, Guy Bailey.
UTRGV continues to take away from Brownsville without warning or consulting students.
To make matters worse, our elected officials in Brownsville and Cameron County talk a big game about it “not being fair” and that “something needs to be done.”
I agree; I just wish you actually did something about it instead of only taking pictures on campus and with university officials when it’s convenient.
I don’t think it’s fair to have the UTRGV Brownsville class of Fall 2019 travel to Harlingen to celebrate its accomplishments.
This is me trying to do something about it.
I encourage you to do the same.
