Coug Grads Shift Focus To Achievement

Speakers at Washington State University’s commencement on Saturday were determined that two recent tragedies wouldn’t cast a shadow on Cougar spirit.

WSU President Sam Smith urged the audience to look past last weekend’s campus riot and an alcohol-related accident that critically injured an underage fraternity member to the bright futures of several thousand graduates.

“This has been a difficult week for WSU and, unfortunately, the actions of a few stole the headlines for our wonderful graduates,” Smith said of the alcohol-fueled clash between police and students.

“You are the future of this nation.”

With a Ph.D. in botany in one hand and a sleeping 16-day-old baby in the other, Linda Cook seemed happy WSU finally could focus on its accomplishments.

“It was humiliating,” she said of the student rampage. “But this is the flip side.”

Cook, 31, said she has no immediate plans to look for work.

“I’ve got my doctorate, and they can’t take it away from me,” she said. “I’m going to be a mom for a while now.”

WSU awarded diplomas to 2,600 undergraduates and 500 graduate students Saturday, holding two events that packed Beasley Coliseum in the morning and afternoon.

Commencement ceremonies are normally held at a number of locations across campus, but that wasn’t possible this year because of construction projects.

The influx of parents in town had a calming effect on campus, police said Saturday. No major incidents were reported overnight.

Most WSU students and administrators made the resiliency of Cougar spirit clear. Many said the riot fails to diminish some remarkable achievements, including the football team’s Pac-10 football championship and trip to the Rose Bowl.

“Especially in these trying times, we must be the utmost ambassadors as alumni for our university,” said outgoing ASWSU President Neil Walker. “We’re part of a great family here, and I’m very proud to be a Coug.”

Real Cougars would never threaten police or destroy their neighbors’ property, said regent Phyllis Campbell, president of U.S. Bank of Washington.

Real Cougars, she said, were those celebrating the “Year of the Roses.”

They are high achievers, like famous graduates Edward R. Murrow, sportscaster Keith Jackson, astronaut John Fabian and cartoonist Gary Larson.

Campbell also encouraged graduates to give back to their communities through responsible citizenship.

“We can all point to that special professor that ignited an interest in learning or that special parent that responded to pleas of ‘Send money,”’ she said. “It is to them that we owe our thanks today and to others that we owe a helping hand.”

DIPLOMAS WSU awarded diplomas to 2,600 undergraduates and 500 graduate students Saturday.