Sox, Met fans irked about grad spot
Kate Thuma
Issue date: 2/26/08 Section: Campus
For Red Sox fans, it's your worst nightmare: Front and center in Yankee Stadium receiving your diploma.
Is this hell?
NYU Red Sox fans say yes - and it's a reality.
It has been a month since NYU announced its decision to hold this year's commencement at Yankee Stadium, home of what Red Sox and Mets fans consider the Evil Empire. Usually held in Washington Square Park, the ceremony was moved due to renovations.
"If that happens to me, I will cry," said CAS junior and lifelong Sox fan Rachel Chapman. "Graduation is such a community thing, and when you put it in a sports stadium, you're including another community."
But depending on the baseball game schedule, the 2009 graduation could be moved to Citi Field, the new home of the Mets, set to open in April 2009. If the class of 2009 has their commencement in Yankee Stadium, however, there is a chance it could be in the new Yankee Stadium, also opening in April 2009.
"I would rather graduate somewhere that's more neutral, because I've always kind of thought of graduation as a momentous, happy occasion, and I wouldn't really want to associate it with the Yankees," said CAS junior and Mets fan Francesca Basile.
Some students believe feelings of community are not limited to a graduation in Washington Square Park, and that Yankee Stadium qualifies as a uniquely New York experience that makes its selection as the 2008 graduation setting entirely appropriate.
"NYU is supposed to be a university that is 'in and of the city,' not a university that is in and of Washington Square Park," said CAS junior Alex Hogan, a Mets fan. "I hate the Yanks, but Yankee Stadium is a landmark and Shea isn't."
CAS junior Carla Benton disagreed. Benton, though not a baseball fan, would prefer that graduation take place in a more familiar, Manhattan-based setting.
"People are going to be coming from all over to see their family and friends graduate from a school in Manhattan," she said. "For that graduation to not be in Manhattan is a little ridiculous."
Some fans are indifferent, as long as the Yankee element is kept to a minimum. CAS junior Caitlin Perry, a Red Sox fan from Vermont, said she is fairly neutral, explaining that "as long as there's not Yankee paraphernalia in our pictures, then it's fine."
But for Yankee fans, this is a dream.
"I'm totally freaking out!" said lifelong Yankees fan Ally Sacks, a Tisch senior. "I was like 'they couldn't have picked a better place.'"
Kate Thuma is campus news editor. E-mail her at campus@nyunews.com
Is this hell?
NYU Red Sox fans say yes - and it's a reality.
It has been a month since NYU announced its decision to hold this year's commencement at Yankee Stadium, home of what Red Sox and Mets fans consider the Evil Empire. Usually held in Washington Square Park, the ceremony was moved due to renovations.
"If that happens to me, I will cry," said CAS junior and lifelong Sox fan Rachel Chapman. "Graduation is such a community thing, and when you put it in a sports stadium, you're including another community."
But depending on the baseball game schedule, the 2009 graduation could be moved to Citi Field, the new home of the Mets, set to open in April 2009. If the class of 2009 has their commencement in Yankee Stadium, however, there is a chance it could be in the new Yankee Stadium, also opening in April 2009.
"I would rather graduate somewhere that's more neutral, because I've always kind of thought of graduation as a momentous, happy occasion, and I wouldn't really want to associate it with the Yankees," said CAS junior and Mets fan Francesca Basile.
Some students believe feelings of community are not limited to a graduation in Washington Square Park, and that Yankee Stadium qualifies as a uniquely New York experience that makes its selection as the 2008 graduation setting entirely appropriate.
"NYU is supposed to be a university that is 'in and of the city,' not a university that is in and of Washington Square Park," said CAS junior Alex Hogan, a Mets fan. "I hate the Yanks, but Yankee Stadium is a landmark and Shea isn't."
CAS junior Carla Benton disagreed. Benton, though not a baseball fan, would prefer that graduation take place in a more familiar, Manhattan-based setting.
"People are going to be coming from all over to see their family and friends graduate from a school in Manhattan," she said. "For that graduation to not be in Manhattan is a little ridiculous."
Some fans are indifferent, as long as the Yankee element is kept to a minimum. CAS junior Caitlin Perry, a Red Sox fan from Vermont, said she is fairly neutral, explaining that "as long as there's not Yankee paraphernalia in our pictures, then it's fine."
But for Yankee fans, this is a dream.
"I'm totally freaking out!" said lifelong Yankees fan Ally Sacks, a Tisch senior. "I was like 'they couldn't have picked a better place.'"
Kate Thuma is campus news editor. E-mail her at campus@nyunews.com
Viewing Comments 1 - 10 of 14
nyu senior
posted 2/26/08 @ 9:56 AM EST
yes, as a senior sox fan, i too was disappointed to learn that after years of praying the rennovations wouldl be deterred at least until after may 14th, we would be saying goodbye to nyu at yankee stadium. (Continued…)
Michelle
posted 2/26/08 @ 10:58 AM EST
As an NYU Alum, CAS '07, and die-hard Yankee fan, I was pretty disappointed to hear I would miss graduating in Yankee Stadium by one year. I never felt particularly connected to Washington Square Park; it was a part of daily NYU life, and so graduating there felt common-place (though the sea of purple, the school pride, etc. (Continued…)
Dan Bobitz
posted 2/26/08 @ 12:20 PM EST
You are such a bunch of entitled, whining, little pigs.
Diana
posted 2/26/08 @ 2:12 PM EST
i'm inclined to agree with Dan -- it's just graduation, get over it.
Justin
posted 2/26/08 @ 2:27 PM EST
Do you all realize that CAS gradutes in MSG almost every year that they can? Should all fans Devils, Celtics, Bulls, Islanders, Flyers, etc that go to CAS boycott that? Of course not. (Continued…)
Matthew Heintz
posted 2/26/08 @ 3:15 PM EST
Dan said everything I was about to say...grow up.
Dan
posted 3/06/08 @ 2:25 PM EST
Wow! I am so suprised to hear that a bunch of snots from the east coast that go to an eletist university are whining about something that is irrelevant. (Continued…)
Andrew Sells
posted 3/06/08 @ 4:26 PM EST
I am a life long Yankee and baseball in general fan. I would consider it an honor to graduate in Yankee stadium or any stadium for that matter. Grow up and shut you spoiled brats!
Ryan
posted 3/07/08 @ 1:08 AM EST
Complaining about graduating in a baseball stadium? Give me a break. Just be happy that you even graduated and you can finally go out and get a job. (Continued…)
Bx Bomber in Jpn
posted 3/07/08 @ 9:39 AM EST
Shut the hell up, losers. This is as close to being a winner as any of you sorry arses will ever come.
Post a Comment