THE EDITOR, Sir:

Whoever stood up as guest-speaker the night of the graduation ceremony for Jamaica School of Art's Class of 1980, declared imminent measures for the upgrading of the four-year diploma to bachelor status. That is all I can recall of the unpoetic event, except, oddly, the dress I had on.

Long-ago prophecy

Nigh on 27 years since, a small advertisement in The Gleaner heralded the fulfilment of the long-ago prophecy. No sooner had I notified a fellow graduate of the good news (she lives in Montreal and every winter curses the day she bade farewell to our beloved isle), than a hasty follow-up announcement revoked the Edna Manley College for the Visual and Performing Arts' original proclamation, to stipulate that only recent graduates could qualify for upgrading. Even as my Canadian friend and I commiserated, our spirits soared at th prospect of posthumous accreditation.

Freeness, alas, cannot be the order of the day. Money is de rigueur in most transactions, no matter how little interest there is in it. According to Natiesha Facey, class of 2003, in her December 7 letter to the editor, eligible candidates can now invest J$100,000 (plus) to swap DIP for BFA. Which is worse, not being eligible, or being held to ransom?

Student life

Bachelors all aside, the memories I've kept of the four years from 1976 to 1980 I wouldn't trade for all the degrees in the universe. It was an exhilarating time to be a student in Jamaica at the new Cultural Training Centre. My teachers and fellow students are all extraordinarily gifted and dear to my heart.

I am, etc.,

LAURIE MAHFOOD

mahfood@cwjamaica.com

'Riverhouse'

Maryland district