2011 CLC commencement remains at Genesee

A compromise agreement calls for College of Lake County to hold its 2011 commencement ceremony at the Genesee Theater in Waukegan, but return the event to the Grayslake campus after that.

The CLC board unanimously approved the concept offered at Tuesday's board meeting by Trustee John Lumber, who said the challenges encountered at the theater during the 2010 ceremony are not insurmountable.

Last year, marked the first time the college held its commencement at the theater at about half the cost of the 2009 ceremony at the Grayslake campus.

Challenges included incoming faculty and staff needing directions, a crowded space for faculty to line up, stairs creating a safety concern and graduates exiting the theater onto Genesee Street rather than staying for refreshments available in the lounges of the theater.

Lumber said keeping the commencement in Waukegan for another year could give CLC time to prepare to return the event to the Grayslake campus in 2012 and 2013. At that time, officials could consider options such as video streaming the ceremony or, as universities do, conducting ceremonies for various colleges of study, he added.

Trustee Philip Carrigan suggested that when it returns to the Grayslake campus, there could be a pre-ceremony event for graduates and their families that could include mingling with faculty and college trustees and touring the campus.

Before CLC trustees discussed the issue, Phyllis Soybel, who heads the college's faculty senate, said the faculty was surveyed about the graduation venue and 65 percent of those asked said they wanted it to return to the Genesee Theater.

Survey comments noted the Grayslake campus offers better parking, but the theater should be given another chance. The comfort of the theater and the surroundings create a specialness to the event in contrast to the Physical Education location at the Grayslake campus.

“The audience didn't treat the event like halftime at a football game,” she quoted one survey respondent as saying.

Violet Ricker, executive director of Waukegan Main Street, read a letter to CLC trustees from the Main Street board encouraging commencement to continue in Waukegan.

She noted the event brings people to downtown Waukegan where they can also spend time at local businesses. Ricker said two new restaurants have opened in the past month and another restaurant is expected to open soon.