I felt the pressure when I was in there. It was a place that put me in a state of awe. All of us vowed to return to that very place, and when that time comes, we have an achievement as a prove to that sacred place.
It was the prestige, as many would agree that will put Dewan Tunku Canselor as a sacred place among UM students. Remember the very first time when we step inside it? Remember when we sang the UM song loudly as a symbol of respect to the university we fell in love at first sight to?
Remember when we secretly vowed to take the stage, after seeing the Vice-Chancellor and all the deans and professors, clad in the convocation robe ( I do not know the name, but it looks cool) looking to us from above the stage. We wanted to be in that same robe, and on that same stage too. No matter how long it takes to get us there (there will be a long name list, but we do not mind waiting)
Dewan Tunku Canselor was not only gave that impression to me, and to many other undergraduates, but to the accompanying friends and relatives. Imagine the looks on your mother's face while seeing you in front of the DTC. Imagine your father's as well. If they want to share it with the whole
kampung and give them a look of your pictures?
Its not the fame and glory that I think the most important drive on why we would like to return to that place come graduation. We know that place has seen many country leaders, academicians, aristocrats, artists and we know that it has been "Producing Leaders Since 1905". (first convocation ceremony held in DTC is for 1965/66 batch, anyway) But how can we betray our dreams to put ourselves in that place? Many of us have that secret dream. Many of us think that it is worth to be there after a long investment in our academic endeavor.
What? 3, 4 years are not enough to be recognized on such a place?
I visited my old school. I look back to the old building. The main hall of my childhood dreams. I secretly dreamed to receive a simple award on the stage. And for that, I have been striving in my class. Most of the time, I could not finish even at the top 10. But, I really want it. And finally, after I 'graduated' from that school, they call me back to receive some small tokens of appreciation for getting 5As in UPSR.
A picture of my old school main hallIt was a very strong competition between us. Not everyone can be on the stage. You have to fight for it if you really want it. And I don't care how the dewan looks. As long as it is (the appreciation ceremony) there.
Back to DTC story. You knew how to graduate. You knew you have to take "kursus wajib" and all that. You knew you have to clear your debts to the university before attending that ceremony. You knew that after doing all that, you can get on that stage. But "they" have other plans for you. They will still graduate you, but they want you to do it some place else.
Reasons? The ceremony took a long time that the administration seems to be 'not working' the whole week. And they want to sort it out by cutting it short, and by putting 'the stage' at many places.
And there you go. a PEACE WALK will be held this Thursday 27th. We want the plan to be scrapped. We want decisions to involve the students voice. We want to show solidarity, we want the administration to know that we are ONE voice when it comes to the students concerns.
So far, students have
convinced the TNC HEP & A. Now we want the answer straight from the VC. Will you support this cause?
