Reader Responses

As a new president at Tyler Junior College, I have made numerous changes that were identified as urgently needed. Other changes are in progress as the need is identified.

For 50 years or more, TJC's commencement ceremony has opened with an invocation and ended with a prayer. Both the Texas flag and the flag of the United States are prominently on display on our stage.

However, neither the Pledge of Allegiance nor the National Anthem has been included in the ceremony. This is in line with many other Texas colleges. However, at both my previous colleges, the Pledge and National Anthem were included in the ceremony, so I did note this absence. We had already made plans to modify future commencement ceremonies, and I am pleased these changes can be expected to be well received.

I hope many of your readers will attend our next graduation and celebrate the remarkable achievements of our students, their families and the employees of TJC. I hope even more of them will come to TJC and see for themselves that many changes are under way and TJC is headed for new heights!