Students join to dedicate heart of NU campus

By Nicole Douglas
Norwich Guidon Staff Writer

This year, the Norwich University graduating Class of 2002 is dedicating the Upper Parade Ground (UP) to Norwich University Alumni who have fallen in the fight for our nation. It is the first gift given to the university jointly by the graduating cadet and civilian student bodies.

Ara Banks, Director of Residence Life for Norwich, believes the event will be a unifying event for the cadet and civilian student bodies.

"I believe it will bring unity to Norwich," Banks stated. "It will give a sense of ownership and a better sense of pride to the whole student body."

Regimental commander C/Col Scott McKay, a 20-year-old senior chemistry major from LaPlata, Maryland, believes the dedication of the UP by a combined student body of both cadets and civilians is representative of the changing times in which we live.

"Before the merger with Vermont College, the Corps of Cadets had traditions that were just understood," McKay said. "Just like the real world and the real military, things are changing, and with change you have to explain why you do certain things."

Because the dedication is to all graduates who have given their lives for America, it will include any future civilian graduates that make "the ultimate sacrifice."

"Stating that all corps members will be in the military or that no civilian will be is false," Banks said. "The dedication means that if a civilian student were to give their life for this country, they would be honored by Norwich. American pride goes far beyond corps or civilian."

"When we all graduate from Norwich, we are all alumni," McKay said. "Corps or civilian, we all are part of this University."

According to McKay, the dedication will help to promote the tradition of not walking on the grass of the UP except during specific Cadet Corps activities. The belief of those behind the dedication is that sanctification will give students a reason to carry on with the tradition in the years to come.

"If Norwich sanctifies the UP as hallowed ground, we should respect that and treat it as such," added Martha Mathas, Dean of Students. "In all the years I have been here, I have always treated it as such. To this day, I cannot see myself walking on the grass."

McKay stated that Drill Team practices, parades, and other corps activities "sanctioned by the university" will continue to be allowed to take place on the UP. During the winter season, the traditional snow sculptures done by the freshmen will still take place.

However, one thing that will no longer be allowed after the dedication is the utilization of the UP during the summer seasons, which has been allowed previously for various activities.

Not everyone feels optimistic about the dedication. Jason Chizmar, Vice President of Student Council, believes that civilian students will have little attachment to the UP after the dedication.

"The civilians and corps are dedicating the UP together," Chizmar said. "But afterwards the civilians will have nothing to do with it."

Chizmar's comments were echoed in the words of the Student Council VP of Finance, Chris Defisaugh.

"The problem I see in the matter is that it might shun civilians," Defisaugh said. "While the corps still will conduct their activities on the UP, the civilians will have nothing to do with it."

"Traditions like this need to be started. It is an excellent idea, honoring people who have died protecting our country," stated Anne Lambert, 21, a junior English major and assistant residence hall advisor for Crawford Hall.

"It is an excellent idea and should be supported by everyone," according to student council president Josh Creighton. "It will be great for the university and even greater for the civilians to take part in the occasion. It needs to be a combined ceremony allowing all civilians to take part along with the corps."

Though a specific date has not yet been set for the dedication, the announcement for it was made during this year's Alumni Weekend.

"One reason we don't want people to walk on the grass is because it shows laziness and inability to take the walkway," McKay said.

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