Tuesday, April 29, 2008
The Michigan Daily - michigandaily.com
3
PROTEST FOR PEACE
GRADUATION
From Page 1
it comes to designing your life."
The Class of 1987 law graduate
told the audience that a few years
after he graduated, he left a six-fig-
ure salary as a lawyer to pursue a
career in journalism that paid him
just $12,000.
The Michigan native was even-
tually named co-anchor of ABC's
"World News Tonight" in Jan.
2006. Just a month later, his skull
was shattered when a roadside
bomb detonated near him when he
was coveringthe war in Iraq.
The story of Woodruff's injury
and eventual recovery from a 36-
day coma added emphasis when
he told the graduates about the
strength of the individual.
"Never underestimate the power
of the human spirit," Woodruff
said. "People can fight back against
great odds and triumph."
LSA graduate Michael Kinna-
man said he was impressed Wood-
ruff could accomplish so much after
being so close to death.
"He had a really inspirational
story and it was just nice to see him
up there after his recovery," Kin-
naman said, describing the entire
event as "tremendous."
"I think it definitely turned out
better than the Big House," he said.
"The University dropped the ball
in the beginning, but they really
stepped it up in the end."
Most students who donned caps
and gowns for Saturday's event
said they had looked forward to
graduating on the grass at the Big
House. While Michigan Stadium
has traditionally played host to
commencement ceremonies, Uni-
versity administrators had to find
another place for graduates to turn
their tassels this year because the
stadiumrenovations thatbegan last
fall made the venue unavailable.
Administrators announced that
commencement would be held at
Eastern Michigan University's
Rynearson Stadium, but the plan
was scrapped after the Univer-
sity was flooded with student and
alumnicomplaints. Graduateswere
eventually given a choice between
a few on-campus locations, and the
Diag emerged as the overwhelming
favorite.
Though Saturday's cool temper-
atures left some guests wrapped in
blankets and others seeking more
cushy seats in Hill Auditorium,
where the event was displayed on
a television screen, nearly everyone
in attendance seemed to be satis-
fied with the setup.
In the final minutes before com-
mencement, many parents crowded
to the front of the Diag, snapping
photos of their children, while
graduates stood on chairs, hop-
ing to get a few seconds of fame on
the video screens before speeches
began.
Others, like LSA graduate Tia'
Trammell, took the opportunity to
reflect on their experience at the
University.
"At first I was a little disappoint-
ed, but now I really like it," Tram-
mell said of the commencement
location.
"It reminds me of walking to
class everyday and how much it
took for me to get here," she said.
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Daily News.
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CORRECTIONS
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Daily to:
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Between 600 and 700 eale demanstrated in suport o the 2008 E
Olympics aatside at Crisler Arena as the 14th Dalai Lama lectured At
. 914 Hill St. at Tappan
9AM - 6PM Daily through Sat. May 2
9 ] Michigan Institute of Religion / behind big, in pkg. lot
(Education Center for The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints)
' , 1621 S. State Street at Stimson
9AM - 9PM Mon. - Sat. AND 11-5 Sun.
Salvation Army Thrift Store & Donation Center
(across from the U of M Golf Course)
IShop Mon - TIurs 9-9, t Uon Fr & Sat -See Us at Sack to Schooi i me'toriran ivewiviattress Sets from 14Y/ i Wn