Saturday morning was warm, with a light mist in the air - a perfect day for the pomp of a commencement procession.

I love December graduation.

It is small enough to hold on campus, and I can watch the students, with their robes and scarves fluttering, on their way to Robertson Memorial Field House for the ceremony. Students stop by with their parents to have their photos taken next to me.

This year, an alum from 1953 came back to campus to give the mid-year commencement address. David Markin, a business leader and a strong supporter of tennis, has also been a great friend and donor to the university over the years. We honored him with an honorary Doctor of Humane Letters during the ceremony.

Nearly 350 students took part in Saturday’s ceremony.

Congratulations to all the December grads. I wish you the best of luck!

A huge inflatable snowman in the Michel Student Center, students with coats over their sweats running across the quad, professors carrying briefcases stuffed with papers…

it must be fall final exams!

Actually, the very last exams of the semester are taking place this very hour. Most of the snow from the blizzard has melted during the past several days, when temperatures have reached 50 degrees.

I am happy to know that as students leave campus for the holidays, they should have good traveling weather. They all deserve a break after a long semester and I hope they enjoy the holidays!

While they are gone, I’ll continue to offer my view of the campus, although I’m not sure it’s going to be too exciting around here for the next few weeks!

‘Snow fun to miss class—except when classes have been cancelled!

Once I realized that the university was closed for the day on Friday, I thought it was going to be pretty cold and lonely out here amid the 12 inches of snow that had fallen during the night. As the sun came out later in the morning, however, so did the students. And we had a blast!

They decorated me with snow and ribbons, hid behind me during snowball fights, and even kissed me. (Maybe they think that will bring them luck during their final exams.)

One talented student, Jason Whang, came out with his camera and captured the fun.

Some people walking past have been trying to remember the last time Bradley closed because of bad weather. No one can recall, so I guess it’s been a while! If you remember, drop me a comment.