<\/a>\n\t\t\t\t<\/a>\n\t\t\t\t<\/a>\n\t\t\t\t<\/a>\n\t\t\t\t<\/a>\n\t\t\t\t<\/a>\n\t\t\t\t<\/a>\n\t\t\t\t<\/a>\n\t\t\t\tBEMIDJI — On any other day, the black gowns and caps would have been a bad idea.<\/span><\/p>\n Hundreds of young men and women in their graduation attire used their paper programs as fans and opened their robes to let a little breeze in on a hot, dry day that was cooled only slightly by the air conditioning inside the Sanford Center.<\/span><\/p>\n The arena was packed Friday with their family and friends — some who came from places like Moldova, Zimbabwe and Colombia — to see their graduates walk across the stage. Before the ceremony they enveloped each other in hugs and took selfies as they made sure to get everyone in the shot, squeezing together their smiling faces.<\/span><\/p>\n “Recently we’ve been challenged to think about what makes America great,” BSU President Richard Hanson told the students. “It’s not in a slogan. It’s not in a crazy political campaign. It’s you.”<\/span><\/p>\n Student Senate President Brittany Hull spoke about her years at school, doing icebreakers at freshman orientation and spelling out B-E-M-I-D-J-I at hockey games.<\/span><\/p>\n “It’s a cheesy slogan,” she said. “But who can disagree? Bemidji State: Best Decision Ever.”<\/span><\/p>\n