So, how was commencement?

[Anonymous]

It's commencement season! If you attended a commencement this year, how was it? What did you glean about the college community, its values and its vibe? I'm especially interested in hearing from folks who didn't attend their own kid's commencement and so, were more able to observe the ceremony and events with some objectivity. (True confession: I was a sociology major and am very interested in how traditions and ceremonies create community).

I'll start -- I went to my niece's commencement at Swarthmore. It was my first time visiting the campus and I was blown away by the beauty, especially the gloriously blooming gardens. The ceremonies were joyous and informal -- no Pomp and Circumstance; instead, the academic procession entered to a jazzy rendition of Let it Be. Speeches were brief, but moving. The main speaker was Bryan Stevenson, advocate for prisoners on death row and founder of the Legacy Museum and Memorial for Peace and Justice (aka, the Lynching Memorial) in Montgomery, AL. Overall, my impression was that Swarthmore is a community that values rigorous intellectual inquiry in search of truth and a commitment to the power of the individual to do what each of us can to make the world a better place.

To those who say -- yeah, it's easy to put your best foot forward one day a year, but what are you doing every day to live your values? -- I would agree that's an important question, but ceremonies and traditions guide us as we try to walk the walk.

[Anonymous]

you are easily influence-able.

the one i attended was nice but big and loud. i was glad to get out of there.

[Anonymous]

For $70K a year, Swarthmore also values wealthy parents who can pay their students’ costs.

[Anonymous]

Time to get over yourself, OP.

[Anonymous]

My son had a wonderful commencement from UMD. He went to both his Government and Politics department ceremony, and to the large main campus exercises.

Michael Bloomberg spoke at the main campus ceremony, and pledged $2.3 million toward a UMD sustainability initiative. What a moment!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:My son had a wonderful commencement from UMD. He went to both his Government and Politics department ceremony, and to the large main campus exercises.

Michael Bloomberg spoke at the main campus ceremony, and pledged $2.3 million toward a UMD sustainability initiative. What a moment!

Bloomberg is worth 54.2 billion. A 2.3 million pledge is .004% of his net worth. If your net worth is $500,000, that would mean you contribute $21. I'm verklempt.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:My son had a wonderful commencement from UMD. He went to both his Government and Politics department ceremony, and to the large main campus exercises.

Michael Bloomberg spoke at the main campus ceremony, and pledged $2.3 million toward a UMD sustainability initiative. What a moment!

Bloomberg is worth 54.2 billion. A 2.3 million pledge is .004% of his net worth. If your net worth is $500,000, that would mean you contribute $21. I'm verklempt.

...says the guy who gives nothing... ever.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:My son had a wonderful commencement from UMD. He went to both his Government and Politics department ceremony, and to the large main campus exercises.

Michael Bloomberg spoke at the main campus ceremony, and pledged $2.3 million toward a UMD sustainability initiative. What a moment!

Bloomberg is worth 54.2 billion. A 2.3 million pledge is .004% of his net worth. If your net worth is $500,000, that would mean you contribute $21. I'm verklempt.

...says the guy who gives nothing... ever.

LOL! I like you!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:It's commencement season! If you attended a commencement this year, how was it? What did you glean about the college community, its values and its vibe? I'm especially interested in hearing from folks who didn't attend their own kid's commencement and so, were more able to observe the ceremony and events with some objectivity. (True confession: I was a sociology major and am very interested in how traditions and ceremonies create community).

I'll start -- I went to my niece's commencement at Swarthmore. It was my first time visiting the campus and I was blown away by the beauty, especially the gloriously blooming gardens. The ceremonies were joyous and informal -- no Pomp and Circumstance; instead, the academic procession entered to a jazzy rendition of Let it Be. Speeches were brief, but moving. The main speaker was Bryan Stevenson, advocate for prisoners on death row and founder of the Legacy Museum and Memorial for Peace and Justice (aka, the Lynching Memorial) in Montgomery, AL. Overall, my impression was that Swarthmore is a community that values rigorous intellectual inquiry in search of truth and a commitment to the power of the individual to do what each of us can to make the world a better place.

To those who say -- yeah, it's easy to put your best foot forward one day a year, but what are you doing every day to live your values? -- I would agree that's an important question, but ceremonies and traditions guide us as we try to walk the walk.

UGH! If I had been a Swarthmore parent, I would have been livid. You pay $240K to hear Elgar just once in your life and they play "Let it be?". Eeeuu. So 60s.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:For $70K a year, Swarthmore also values wealthy parents who can pay their students’ costs.

Swarthmore is need blind. We put our info into their NPC (HHI: $130k) and it would cost $25k/year for us, about the same as UVA (which is in-state).

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:My son had a wonderful commencement from UMD. He went to both his Government and Politics department ceremony, and to the large main campus exercises.

Michael Bloomberg spoke at the main campus ceremony, and pledged $2.3 million toward a UMD sustainability initiative. What a moment!

Bloomberg is worth 54.2 billion. A 2.3 million pledge is .004% of his net worth. If your net worth is $500,000, that would mean you contribute $21. I'm verklempt.

Yeah, and? You think that gift was the only gift he made in 2019? Considering that a good many speakers at universities do, in fact, get a speaking fee, the fact that he not only waived said fee but gave a significant gift is remarkable.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:It's commencement season! If you attended a commencement this year, how was it? What did you glean about the college community, its values and its vibe? I'm especially interested in hearing from folks who didn't attend their own kid's commencement and so, were more able to observe the ceremony and events with some objectivity. (True confession: I was a sociology major and am very interested in how traditions and ceremonies create community).

I'll start -- I went to my niece's commencement at Swarthmore. It was my first time visiting the campus and I was blown away by the beauty, especially the gloriously blooming gardens. The ceremonies were joyous and informal -- no Pomp and Circumstance; instead, the academic procession entered to a jazzy rendition of Let it Be. Speeches were brief, but moving. The main speaker was Bryan Stevenson, advocate for prisoners on death row and founder of the Legacy Museum and Memorial for Peace and Justice (aka, the Lynching Memorial) in Montgomery, AL. Overall, my impression was that Swarthmore is a community that values rigorous intellectual inquiry in search of truth and a commitment to the power of the individual to do what each of us can to make the world a better place.

To those who say -- yeah, it's easy to put your best foot forward one day a year, but what are you doing every day to live your values? -- I would agree that's an important question, but ceremonies and traditions guide us as we try to walk the walk.

UGH! If I had been a Swarthmore parent, I would have been livid. You pay $240K to hear Elgar just once in your life and they play "Let it be?". Eeeuu. So 60s.

+1. Plus, if there is one thing we DON'T need bright and talented young people to do for our nation today, it's to "Let it Be." We need action and commitment to making positive change.

[Anonymous]

I attended my kid's Swarthmore's graduation a few years ago. I would bet that the students had a had n the music selection. Maybe they should have selected "Highway to Hell"?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:My son had a wonderful commencement from UMD. He went to both his Government and Politics department ceremony, and to the large main campus exercises.

Michael Bloomberg spoke at the main campus ceremony, and pledged $2.3 million toward a UMD sustainability initiative. What a moment!

Bloomberg is worth 54.2 billion. A 2.3 million pledge is .004% of his net worth. If your net worth is $500,000, that would mean you contribute $21. I'm verklempt.

...says the guy who gives nothing... ever.

^^ remember Obama until he decided to run for president? He donate <2% of his income. Then it was an oh sh!t moment and he increased his charity to nearly 10%.

He's the liberal poster boy. %

[Anonymous]

And Trump is the conservative poster boy. I think he donated some cold hamburgers to some athletes once. Oh wait, I'm forgetting the Trump Foundation.