Did/does your University have racial/ethnic commencement ceremonies ?

**MAJOR METAL** · #1 06-07-2011, 12:19 AM

Did/does the University you attend have separate commencement ceremonies for racial/ethnic groups ? The University I completed my graduate degree at that I also happen to work at has this practice. Just this passed Saturday there were two separate commencement ceremonies, one called the Black graduation and the other called the Latino commencement. I was working that day and to be quite honest I was really offended the University was endorsing this self imposed racial/ethnic segregation for graduation ceremonies. The most embarrassing for me that day was going around campus seeing signs saying "Black Graduation", it really resonated with the imagery of segregation signs.

Kwesi · #2 06-07-2011, 12:21 AM

I really don't know any other way to say this: That sounds effin' dumb.

Dr. Cheese · #3 06-07-2011, 12:24 AM

MM, do you mind saying what is your school, and do you have a link to any insititutions that support separate graduations? On the face of it, this seems unnecessary, but I would llike more information.

elgecko · #4 06-07-2011, 12:36 AM

Yes. I went to a Cal State University and was invited to an "ethnic" graduation. The ceremony was supplemental to the main graduation ceremony and was held on a different day. It was organized by the campus' [insert ethnicity] club.

The idea of "walking" with a bunch of strangers, with only ethnicity in common, seemed silly so I didn't go. I did go to the regular ceremony and me and my department class had a great time, generally making jackasses of ourselves!

**MAJOR METAL** · #5 06-07-2011, 12:44 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Dr. Cheese

MM, do you mind saying what is your school, and do you have a link to any insititutions that support separate graduations? On the face of it, this seems unnecessary, but I would llike more information.

CSUSB, I am looking on the University Calender for this past weekend events but it looks like the Calender only moves forward after events have taken place. The justification I heard for the Latino Commencement was that it is necessary to have a bilingual Commencement in Spanish for the family's of the graduates. At the all inclusive Commencement where people graduate by the college of their study they have sign language translation.

IotaNet · #6 06-07-2011, 04:59 AM

The University of Illinois used to do this (and they still might) years ago when I was was an Undergrad. I didn't attend U of I but I never really could understand this one.

I can understand waning to participate in events that are more in line with your culture while you're in school but graduation is graduation.

Dr. Cheese · #7 06-07-2011, 06:02 AM

Having worked at more graduations than I can count, I think the nice thing about them is that you see everybody who has been at the university, and their families. I can sort of understand the bilingual argument, but I'm pretty sure university's could work around that at a single graduation ceremony.

I will say this though, my school has multiple graduation ceremonies simply because no one facility is big enough, and if everyone graduated at once, it would be a six or seven hour ceremony.

I could see separate groups holding some sort of graduation recognition program that would be smaller and more intimate, but the actual commencement should be at a major location for that particular college of the university.

DwaynieAD · #8 06-07-2011, 06:17 AM

well that sounds like a step in the wrong direction

Relic · #9 06-07-2011, 06:35 AM

I really don't see anything wrong with it so long as it's a sort of supplemental commencement and not THE one. For some, graduation might be a longer, harder road than for others. Therefor, there's nothing wrong in celebrating the accomplishment as a group.
If my school had such a thing based on ethnic background (they had clubs, and events and such but no commencements based on it), I would have participated. why not?

iamlowsound · #10 06-07-2011, 08:36 AM

Seems to take the universal part out of university doesn't it?

lowsound

masturbasser · #11 06-07-2011, 09:06 AM

This is of course all well and dandy but what if there was a white graduation? Nazis!

macaroni tony · #12 06-07-2011, 09:42 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Kwesi

I really don't know any other way to say this: That sounds effin' dumb.

Sounds dumb to me as well. I just can't see how this even came about

Are there some kind of ethnic clubs on campus who are putting this together? Or was this the school's idea?

MakiSupaStar · #13 06-07-2011, 10:06 AM

My undergrad university held commencements by schools. Mine was the 'Humanities' ceremony. That was the only segregation I saw.

Relic · #14 06-07-2011, 10:11 AM

Again - if this is the main commencement ceremony for some folks, then yes, I also see it as being just a little divisive or maybe just plain aloof.

But if it's a supplemental thing, maybe based on an ethnic or racial club or something of the sort, then frankly, I don't see a problem. Why the heck should I be bothered if Hispanic students for instance wanted to celebrate their accomplishment in a supplemental commencement?? Good for them, they earned it. Who am I to tell them that it's wrong? As I said before, I'd attend such a thing if they had it in my school for folks of my background.

MonetBass · #15 06-07-2011, 10:13 AM

No, the university where I graduated did not have separate commencements. And it is ridiculous to do that. That screams "Hey, let's perpetuate racism." Ignorance can only live in someone's mind if you let it.

EDIT: Like Maki, there were separate commencements by college. It is a large university.

Pilgrim · #16 06-07-2011, 10:32 AM

Most universities graduate by college or unit. Many of them have additional ceremonies or celebrations conducted by interest groups, minorities or ethnic groups. However, those separate ceremonies are typically not the actual commencement event.

I have served as President of a large alumni association, and had the pleasure of attending two or three graduation ceremonies (not commencements) held by ethnic groups (called "alliances" on that campus) on the same weekend as commencement. We made sure to appear at each of these events so they would know that they were equally valued and important to the alumni association.

As with most things, practices are evolving with society, and YMMV.

I personally think it is important to have all interest and ethic groups participate in the same formal commencement process, as the institution wants to make it clear to them that they are all valued equally, all have equal status, and all are an integral part of the alumni of that institution. However, I think it's cool that groups hold related events, many of which allow them to participate along with their friends and family. That makes it more of a family-wide celebration.

aborgman · #17 06-07-2011, 10:39 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Relic

If my school had such a thing based on ethnic background (they had clubs, and events and such but no commencements based on it), I would have participated. why not?

I didn't do ANY of the graduation activities when I graduated from college - not the university wide commencement, not the seperate college commencement, nothing.

I didn't want to waste my time and money (graduation attire ~$150) - it was bad enough I had to pay for my diploma.

Pilgrim · #18 06-07-2011, 11:46 AM

I figure that after spending four years getting a degree, I was ENTITLED to attend graduation, and I wanted to take part in every bit of it that I could! It's an experience that I enjoyed.

aborgman · #19 06-07-2011, 12:33 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Pilgrim

I figure that after spending four years getting a degree, I was ENTITLED to attend graduation, and I wanted to take part in every bit of it that I could! It's an experience that I enjoyed.

If it had been free and/or intimate - I might have considered it... but when your commencement includes 5,000+ students and there is significant cost..

**smperry** · #20 06-07-2011, 12:53 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Relic

Again - if this is the main commencement ceremony for some folks, then yes, I also see it as being just a little divisive or maybe just plain aloof.

But if it's a supplemental thing, maybe based on an ethnic or racial club or something of the sort, then frankly, I don't see a problem. Why the heck should I be bothered if Hispanic students for instance wanted to celebrate their accomplishment in a supplemental commencement?? Good for them, they earned it. Who am I to tell them that it's wrong? As I said before, I'd attend such a thing if they had it in my school for folks of my background.

I agree with this.

I'm pretty sure that both universities I've attended did this, but I did not participate in the additional ceremony. In the case of grad school, I skipped the whole thing...I'm not a 'pomp and circumstance' kind of guy.