Six Impossible Things Before Breakfast

SITBB Vault: Queen for a Day

I was talking recently to a colleague from my graduate program who was trying to decide whether or not to attend commencement. That brought to my mind this post from a couple years ago. I do not regret for one moment attending the ceremony last December as it was a wonderful bookend to my graduate school experience. Or so I thought. When I walked across the stage to receive my maroon leatherette diploma holder thing with the University seal embossed on it, all that was in it was a typed sheet of paper telling me that my actual diploma would be mailed to me. A month or so after the ceremony I received a large manilla envelope in the mail with my REAL LIVE DIPLOMA WITH MY NAME ON IT inside between two plain sheets of cardboard. What a wonderful, true bookend to my graduate school experience. Or so I thought. Last week I received two invitations: one to my College commencement ceremony and one to a reception at the residence of the University President. Well, I do so love academic rituals, but I wonder if it's overkill to attend another two graduation events. On the other hand, though, the second commencement will be very special, as it is the first such event for the newly reconfigured College of Education and Human Development. Also, the Presidential reception will likely feature the chocolate-dipped strawberries that are served at all the fancy University events that I love soooooo much. So, looks like another two "bookends" for me. It's OK, though, since I never did wear my crown at my last ceremony.

I love academic rituals.

Some cry at weddings. I get teary-eyed at graduations. All that music, all the velvety colors, all those smiling moms... (Perhaps that is the real reason behind my continued educational quest: More degrees = more graduation ceremonies.)

It is important in one's graduate school career, however, to have intermediate rituals besides those that mark the major transitions like completing a degree. I once created my own (albeit short-lived) academic ritual of this sort: When I finally completed the first half of my written preliminary examination (critical review paper, for you FSOSers) I wore a crown all day long. A crown. I borrowed it from my daughters' dress-up box--wore it to drop them off at day care, during my classes, and at a college-wide committee meeting. Every time someone commented on it (and thank goodness they commented instead of just assuming that my wearing a crown was some sort of normal occurrence) I got the opportunity to share my news and receive congratulations. It was wonderful.

Well, this academic ritual, marking the major milestone of the awarding of tenure, is one that I had not heard of. It is truly wonderful, and I hope that wherever I end up getting tenure has adopted this practice:

Earning tenure is cause for celebration--and a few universities honor that milestone in a way that combines academic values: They invite newly promoted professors to pick out a book to be added to the library.

The University of Wisconsin at Madison started such a program last year, at the suggestion of Peter D. Spear, the provost, who got the idea from the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign. Spear said that the program both honors professors and "recognizes the importance of our libraries and the central role they play in the scholarship of the academy."

I was very pleased to see mentioned in this article the choice by one of our own Department of Family Social Science alumni:

Harriet the Spy, selected by Ramona Faith Oswald (human and community development) and who said that the children's classic had been her favorite since she was 9 years old. "She inspired me to research people's personal lives and not be afraid of controversy," Oswald wrote, adding that Harriet is "the queer kid trying to figure out how the world works and where she wants to fit in."

What a wonderful choice! My girls and I read a portion from a chapter book at bedtime. We've read "Alice in Wonderland" (of course!), "Stuart Little," "Winnie-the-Pooh." We will soon begin "Pippi Longstocking." I think I'll put "Harriet" on the list for next year.

Anyway, I can hardly wait to pick out my title for when (whenwhenwhen) I am awarded tenure. Of course I have to graduate from here first. (Which means I have to actually finish my dissertation first!) So in the interim, I am dreaming of donning my colorful hood, adjusting my silky tassel, and feeling the heft of my gloriously embossed degree in my hands.

I know of some graduate students who have skipped their graduations. I guess they retain too many bad memories of their struggles to finish. Or too much of their campus is associated with times of avoiding their advisors because they were draft-less, thus making further avoidance at graduation time seem automatic. Or maybe they already have positions and are just too busy to return to campus for the ceremony. Someone once told me no one else from his cohort would be there as they had all graduated (or left the program) years before, so he did not see the point of attending himself.

Whatever the reason, it is a shame. I know I will be at my graduation. Not only that, I plan to shake everyone's hand: the president, the provost, my advisor, the person in charge of adjusting the mic--anyone and everyone who is on that stage. I may even stop at the podium to say a few words. They'll have to play that Academy Award-speech music to get me to shut up, perhaps summon security to escort me from the stage.

Heck, I may even wear my crown.

Posted by perry032 at April 2, 2007 05:02 PM | TrackBack
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