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October 2009
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Each year, students around the world don the ceremonial “cap and gown” and prepare to cross the proverbial stage to receive their diplomas, a ritual that signifies the end of one phase of their lives and the beginning of another. However, its significance stretches to a much broader scale since, for the university the ceremony also symbolises its role in the progress of a nation—both good reasons for the pomp and circumstance that surround the occasion. Yet, many of us take part, whether as performer or member of the audience, without knowing where these rituals began or why they are still such important components of contemporary proceedings. The graduation ceremony is one that is steeped in tradition. Every element, from the term “commencement” used to describe the event, to the regalia that the major players wear, finds its roots deeply embedded in history. Commencement The Procession Traditional formations have also been preserved. The ranks of two seen at UWI graduations are part of that solemn, time-honoured walk. The academic procession enters first, headed by the university marshals and then the graduands. A fanfare follows,heralding the entrance of the chancellor’s procession. The mace is carried by the mace bearer at the end, entering directly before the chancellor, who comes in last. The Mace It, too, was adapted into the ceremony from old French and English traditions where the ceremonial mace was carried by the King’s bodyguard, used as a weapon to protect him. By the 14th century, however, its practical use began to be phased out as it became more ornate. Encased in jewels and precious metals, the mace grew to be a more decorative piece, gaining symbolic importance. Regalia Gowns By the year 1600, the gown as a part of regular academic garb was almost completely phased out, being worn only by religious, legal and academic staff. However, because during medieval times most scholarsbelonged to a religious order, graduates of these institutions continued to wear the gown. The tradition has since been retained, as graduands continue to wear the gown during the commencement ceremony. The colour of The UWI’s gown is blue, with doctoral students wearing scarlet, and while most universities today allow much flexibility in what their graduands wear under their gowns, UWI’s protocol mandates that graduating women wear white dresses or suits and men wear dark coloured lounge suits. At The UWI, as with most other universities, gowns for the various degree levels differ slightly in length and shape, with the more advanced degrees having slightly longer sleeves and more elaborate gowns. Hoods The UWI’s hood is blue (with the exception of Doctor of Medicine and PhD candidates) and most are bound with red, while the colour of the lining depends on the faculty and type of degree conferred. Though most universities have the graduands wear their hoods with their gowns throughout the graduation ceremony, traditionally the hoods were presented after they received their degrees. A special Hooding Ceremony was held for the presentation of hoods to Master’s and PhD degree holders. This custom is still preserved by some universities, while others have abandoned it due to the large volume of students that they may have to accommodate. At The UWI, there is no special ceremony. All graduands don their hoods before the commencement and must wear it throughout. The Mortarboard Employing the term “mortarboard” to describe this headgear is a relatively recent development, dating only as far as the mid-19th century. It is thought to have come about due to its resemblance to the literal mortarboard: a wooden plate with a handle underneath, used by bricklayers to carry small amounts of mortar. The use of the mortarboard can be traced back as early as 16th century Europe, when members of academic institutions wore distinctive hats to show their rank in the world of academia. Members of the clergy and scholars wore birettas, which were similar in appearance to the square cap of graduates today. Their students wore a round pileus rotundus, akin to a beret fashioned with a “stalk” or “tab” in the centre. It is believed that the modern mortarboard design began in the early 1500s, at the University of Paris, when graduates merged the two hats, creating a square pileus. Its design continued to be altered and in the 1600s it became a skull cap, topped with a soft, flat, square cap. By the 1700s, the mortarboard began to take shape as the soft cap was replaced with a flat, stiff square that sat atop the skull cap. The tassel was added a century later. Traditionally, the mortarboard was reserved for those receiving a Master’s degree, since during medieval times this was the highest degree awarded. While today, most academic institutions have adopted it in the dress for graduands of all degrees, The UWI remains true to its roots, only awarding the privilege of wearing the mortarboard to recipients of its highest degree: the PhD. Additionally, universities typically stress that it is imperative for the mortarboard to be worn correctly— fitting snugly on the head, with the flat top parallel to the ground. Honorary Degrees Recipients of an honorary degree are typically individuals of renowned reputations, either nationally or internationally, such as leading scholars, discoverers, inventors, authors, artists, musicians, entrepreneurs, social activists and political leaders. Occasionally, it may be reserved for an individual who has greatly affected the university itself, either through board membership, volunteerism or making major monetary contributions. The recipient also need not have any prior connection to the presenting university. Rather, purpose of the honorary degree is for the institution to establish ties with a prominent person and to honour the individual’s contribution to a specific field.
For more on Graduation 2009 please visit the official UWI Graduation website : http://sta.uwi.edu/graduation/ |
Graduation is an annual coming of ag e ceremon y, traditionally the end of “the apprenticeship,” and its elaborate rituals are riveting for all their attention to reproducing every detail of centuries of academic celebrations. While many admire the processions and solemnity of the occasions, the meanings of the rituals and symbols remain a little obscure. Serah Acham explains some of them and their origins.