It appears that Alma has stood up the Class of 2013.

Just as we were near the time of the most anticipated date of the year, Alma dug in her heels and decided to not make her grand appearance until some ambiguous day in the 2013-14 academic year.

What a tease.

Instead of being the class that ushered in the era of Alma Mater 2.0, 2013 graduates will shuffle their feet after the commencement ceremony at Assembly Hall, unsure of the go-to place for the iconic graduation photo.

But lucky we are, for we don’t attend too shabby a campus.

There are many other contestants for the perfect graduation photo. While the Class of 2013 could easily be remembered as the one who was not sent off into the real world by the arms of Alma, it could also be the class that goes down in history as the one that got creative and emphasized other picture-perfect places on campus.

How about we meet the contestants for perfect graduation photo?

Contestant #1: Semi-circle ledge in front of Foellinger Auditorium

You see it in all the promotional materials for the University, and especially on a sunny day in May with green grass and leafy trees and the Illini Union in the background, this could easily become the hotspot to sport your cap-and-gown smiles.

Contestant #2: Altgeld Hall

For you artsy graduates, you may want to have someone get down on their knees and take a low angle shot of you with the Altgeld bell tower rising high above you. This photo is just asking to be Instagrammed.

Contestant #3: The colonnades of Memorial Stadium

Whether you spent a lot of time playing or performing on the field in Memorial Stadium or cheering in the stands, a photo by the Doric columns that support the east and west sides of this stadium is a great way to remember the Big Ten atmosphere of this campus. This can be an especially meaningful place for graduates who are veterans: Memorial Stadium was built in 1923 as a memorial to men and women who died in World War I.

Contestant #4: The Hallene Gateway on the corner of Lincoln and Illinois

This gateway serves as a symbolic entrance to the eastern part of campus (as well as the Alice Campbell Alumni Center and the Office of Undergraduate Admissions). It is made of pillars that used to be a part of University Hall, the first building on the Quad.  The words “Learning and Labor” line the top of the gateway, which are also the names of the two statues that stand behind Alma. Campus spokeswoman Robin Kaler said there will be additional landscaping around this gateway, specifically for graduation photos. 

Contestant #5: The granite block that Alma usually stands on

Chances are you already have a photo of yourself and a couple friends posing as the statues, but now you could pose in your graduation gown. You could even invite your parents in to be Learning and Labor.

Contestant #6: The replicas of Alma that will be placed around campus

Currently being designed by the School of Art and Design, replicas of Alma with “different personalities” will be placed at various locations around campus. The success of this contestant depends on the quality of the design and the cheesy-level of the replicas.

As great as these contestants are, none of them can match the personality and reputation of Alma. No one is saying that it is not a big deal that Alma will not be here for graduation because it is a big deal. The University should have planned for the chance that Alma would take longer than expected to fix and possibly have taken her away at the beginning of the summer as opposed to late August.

But what’s done is done, and Alma will not be here for graduation.

So, embrace the other beautiful parts of this campus and the traditions and meanings that go with them.

Graduates, you are leaving campus with a degree from one of the best universities in the country, and no statue can change that fact.

Kirsten is a sophomore in Media. She can be reached at [email protected].