Meliora Weekend, true to the official university motto “Always Better,” aims to improve each year. This weekend surpasses previous celebrations with an identifiable theme and greater options for students.
While the focus of the weekend has always been to “celebrate the values of an educated life,” this weekend specifically commemorates multiculturalism – featuring a Celebrating Diversity reception and dinner on Friday. The last Meliora Weekend to have a specific focus or theme was “Innovation!” in 2003. Designating a different theme each year keeps the event fresh and attracts alumni who aren’t celebrating a reunion year.
While catering to a broad audience is important, students should not be forgotten. Saturday’s panel, “Hurricane Katrina: How Will We Respond Next Time?,” sets a precedent to increase students’ voices among department and office-initiated panels and presentations. To continue this tradition, students can compete for this opportunity by presenting their ideas to a committee of administrators, faculty and student leaders.
Different from previous years, Friday night entertainment has two different acts, addressing the complaints that come with a diverse audience that had only one entertainment option. Showing good coordination between students and administration, Campus Activities Board and Office of College Advancement each chose acts that specific demographics would enjoy, preventing the need for a compromise that would fall short of expectations. However, this approach limits the number of performances for each show – ticket sales demonstrate that there was high demand that was not met. Our venues can only accommodate modest crowds
As an evolving tradition, activities should be subtracted and added to the schedule. Although there should be some change in events, planners drew on a template that has proved successful in the past. Keeping focus on especially successful events, especially political analysts, a home football game and the Miller Court, bodes well for this year’s Meliora Weekend.
