Miami Student

Issue date: 8/21/07 Section: Campus

Dave Eggers is the author of this year's summer reading selection, What is the What?

Even though many students dread the 8 a.m. class time slot, that's exactly how Miami University's first-year students were welcomed into their academic year.

This year Miami's convocation ceremony, with main speeches by university President David Hodge and author Dave Eggers, was held at 9 a.m. Friday, Aug. 17, with the convocation march beginning at 8 a.m. In past years, it has been held on a Monday in the early afternoon.

The day of convocation was changed in coordination with classes starting Monday; instead of the traditional Tuesday, explained Claire Wagner, university spokesperson. The new day and time slot also made it easier for parents to attend, since it directly followed first-year move in, which was Thursday, Wagner said.

Yet Hodge also expressed concern last year about the traditional alcoholic drinking and heckling from students in off-campus houses that border the path of procession to Millett.

Wagner did not say that the time was changed to discourage this type of behavior, but did admit that she did not hear any negative comments this year.

According to first-years and those in the off-campus houses, the Oxford Police Department's (OPD) presence eliminated any would-be heckling-though students were still out along Tallawanda Avenue at the earlier hours.

"(Upperclassman) had welcoming signs and I didn't hear anything bad yelled out," Wagner said.

First-year microbiology major Joe Vogelsang said he enjoyed seeing the upperclassmen.

"I didn't feel uncomfortable at all," Vogelsang said. "It showed a lot about the students, waking up at 8:30 a.m. on a Friday morning just to welcome us."

OPD stationed along the convocation route was overheard complimenting the students on their good behavior, stating that they "were a lot better this year."

Inside Millett, Hodge began by telling students what it means to be at Miami.

"Miami students have initiative," Hodge said. "When asked to go from A to B you don't need a road map or explicit instructions. In fact you will often be the person who thinks of B to begin with."

The floor was then given to Eggers, who authored the required first-year Summer Reading Program book, What is the What, which tells the true account of Valentino Achak Deng, a Sudanese refugee now living in American and looking back on his journey to the United States.

Continued...

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