PSU Commencements

[mellowlion]

All - I watch this board fairly frequently, but don't post a whole lot. Curious as to your opinion (potentially way off-topic for this forum) on decorum & behavior at PSU commencements...

I'm proud PSU alum from the mid-80's (i.e.. I'm old), and very proud parent of a couple current PSU students. My daughter graduated this weekend - a sincere congrats to ALL this weekends' grads! However, I was disappointed at the general lack of decorum and respect for the commencement ceremony itself. Despite a very polite, but very direct, request from the Dean to hold applause & recognition until all individual graduates had been recognized, there were shouts, hoots, screams - even air horns - when many individual names were announced, making it difficult to hear subsequent names. Further, about 30% of the attendees left before the commencement was over, presumably after the name of their person was announced. Even many graduates themselves left the floor of the BJC after their names were announced!

So, my question for the board, is this....do you believe this behavior is typical & expected at commencement ceremonies? Is this what you have experienced at other commencement ceremonies this weekend? At other recent years' commencements at PSU? At other institutions? Maybe I'm just way-off base and have become an old fuddy-duddy. Though I was very proud of my daughter, I didn't find it to be a proud moment for the University.

I'm curious to hear others' opinions!

 

[wplion]

Well, I have not been to a PSU Graduation since 1984, but the lack of decorum is not new. I do remember graduating in Beaver Stadium and many corks from Champagne bottles almost hitting our commencement speaker. At the time I thought this a fitting end, now, maybe not so much.
The hoots, airhorns, etc. during the individual name recognition are disrespectful to the other participants in the ceremony, which is my biggest issue. My wife teaches at a private high school, and they have the same issue, although to a much lesser scale than you describe. It disappoints me, but just something that I cannot change and will not invest too much time trying to do so.

 

[psuguy04]

It's nothing new or unusual, unfortunately. Happens all the time at every commencement.

 

[kgilbert78]

I wouldn't know. I never went to my commencement (hard to have done so as I was 6000 miles away at the time--exchange program). I did go to my brother and sister's graduation (same one as my sister went on the 7 year plan). I recall Oswald instructing every one on how to sing the Alma Mater (as that was during the "We don't know the ..." days).

 

[CF LION]

I attended commencement at Duquesne this weekend and I can tell you it was NOT like that. There were a few shout outs when for individual graduates, but nothing like what you described. Of course there were only about 300 total grads in the business school ceremony that I attended, so that may have had something to do with it. Or perhaps it was the priests present that made everyone behave.

 

[kgilbert78]

I attended commencement at Duquesne this weekend and I can tell you it was NOT like that. There were a few shout outs when for individual graduates, but nothing like what you described. Of course there were only about 300 total grads in the business school ceremony that I attended, so that may have had something to do with it. Or perhaps it was the priests present that made everyone behave.

Did they have rulers in their hands??

 

[CF LION]

Did they have rulers in their hands??

No, but one of them carried a giant mace that could have done some serious damage if he decided to wield it.

 

[nitlion93]

All - I watch this board fairly frequently, but don't post a whole lot. Curious as to your opinion (potentially way off-topic for this forum) on decorum & behavior at PSU commencements...

I'm proud PSU alum from the mid-80's (i.e.. I'm old), and very proud parent of a couple current PSU students. My daughter graduated this weekend - a sincere congrats to ALL this weekends' grads! However, I was disappointed at the general lack of decorum and respect for the commencement ceremony itself. Despite a very polite, but very direct, request from the Dean to hold applause & recognition until all individual graduates had been recognized, there were shouts, hoots, screams - even air horns - when many individual names were announced, making it difficult to hear subsequent names. Further, about 30% of the attendees left before the commencement was over, presumably after the name of their person was announced. Even many graduates themselves left the floor of the BJC after their names were announced!

So, my question for the board, is this....do you believe this behavior is typical & expected at commencement ceremonies? Is this what you have experienced at other commencement ceremonies this weekend? At other recent years' commencements at PSU? At other institutions? Maybe I'm just way-off base and have become an old fuddy-duddy. Though I was very proud of my daughter, I didn't find it to be a proud moment for the University.

I'm curious to hear others' opinions!

I attended both the engineering commencement on Friday night (son) and business one on Sunday morning (nephew) and can attest that this happened at both ceremonies.

 

[ApexLion]

Yes, this type of behavior is reaching epic proportions and must be stamped out. Just kidding. I think most graduations have become less staid and more celebratory.

True grad celebratory story from my graduation day at PSU. I had to wait in line to get my degree and I was a bit hung over. By the time I got to the Dean I was not thrilled and feeling sick. He shakes my hand, looks at my degree, mispronounces my name very badly and before he could say anything else, I say "Don't worry about it, I don't know your name either." I grabbed the degree and walked away.

 

[lyndj]

All - I watch this board fairly frequently, but don't post a whole lot. Curious as to your opinion (potentially way off-topic for this forum) on decorum & behavior at PSU commencements...

I'm proud PSU alum from the mid-80's (i.e.. I'm old), and very proud parent of a couple current PSU students. My daughter graduated this weekend - a sincere congrats to ALL this weekends' grads! However, I was disappointed at the general lack of decorum and respect for the commencement ceremony itself. Despite a very polite, but very direct, request from the Dean to hold applause & recognition until all individual graduates had been recognized, there were shouts, hoots, screams - even air horns - when many individual names were announced, making it difficult to hear subsequent names. Further, about 30% of the attendees left before the commencement was over, presumably after the name of their person was announced. Even many graduates themselves left the floor of the BJC after their names were announced!

So, my question for the board, is this....do you believe this behavior is typical & expected at commencement ceremonies? Is this what you have experienced at other commencement ceremonies this weekend? At other recent years' commencements at PSU? At other institutions? Maybe I'm just way-off base and have become an old fuddy-duddy. Though I was very proud of my daughter, I didn't find it to be a proud moment for the University.

I'm curious to hear others' opinions!

Oh, the airhorns, you must have been part of the College of Liberal Arts graduation ceremony!! I heard about it. I was in the College of Communications and though people cheered (some more obnoxiously than others), I don't think it was as bad as yours. But even with that, we were able to hear the names as the the Dean would simply call the next name after the noise died down. In the end, nothing could sour the occasion for this proud parent!

 

[dwiz]

All - I watch this board fairly frequently, but don't post a whole lot. Curious as to your opinion (potentially way off-topic for this forum) on decorum & behavior at PSU commencements...

I'm proud PSU alum from the mid-80's (i.e.. I'm old), and very proud parent of a couple current PSU students. My daughter graduated this weekend - a sincere congrats to ALL this weekends' grads! However, I was disappointed at the general lack of decorum and respect for the commencement ceremony itself. Despite a very polite, but very direct, request from the Dean to hold applause & recognition until all individual graduates had been recognized, there were shouts, hoots, screams - even air horns - when many individual names were announced, making it difficult to hear subsequent names. Further, about 30% of the attendees left before the commencement was over, presumably after the name of their person was announced. Even many graduates themselves left the floor of the BJC after their names were announced!

So, my question for the board, is this....do you believe this behavior is typical & expected at commencement ceremonies? Is this what you have experienced at other commencement ceremonies this weekend? At other recent years' commencements at PSU? At other institutions? Maybe I'm just way-off base and have become an old fuddy-duddy. Though I was very proud of my daughter, I didn't find it to be a proud moment for the University.

I'm curious to hear others' opinions!

It is atrocious, and it's not even the "me" generation (the student) who's doing it. It's their families, who are then teaching their kids that is what you do. I think the speaker needed to take pause after the airhorn went off the first time and just lay it out. This isn't acceptable, it's frankly embarrassing, and don't take away the dignity of the situation because you have no shame.

 

[mellowlion]

fwiw...I was actually at HHD, but this seems like this is more the cultural norm now. Didn't seem to bother the grads too much, and at the end of the day, this is all about them. Back in the day (oh, how it makes me cringe to say that), we were announced by major, then we all stood up for a moment and then all sat back down. I definitely remember much longer speeches a generation back!

 

[psuro]

If Dean Wormer of Faber was running the graduation .....

 

[dwiz]

If Dean Wormer of Faber was running the graduation .....

Or this Georgia principal who called out "the blacks" for leaving after their name was called during graduation

http://news.yahoo.com/georgia-principal-look-whos-leaving-all-the-black-people-video-130048314.html

 

[psuro]

I wondered how long before that was mentioned.

 

[joeparules]

My daughter graduated Sunday morning in the BJC (Smeal College of Business). With 1,500 kids graduating I wasn't surprised that some took it a little too far. I don't mind a (very) quick "woo hoo" or "yeah" since it is the culmination of four (or more) years of hard work and it is exciting to hear your child's name in recognition of that hard work. What I do mind are the extended screams from large groups and air horns that prevent you from hearing the next name. Especially if it was your child. Fortunately the family/friends of the graduate before my daughter were respectable as were we, but you are always going to get people who don't understand the line between wanting to celebrate and being rude.

 

[fairgambit]

There is a lack of decorum and civility in every aspect of public life today and I find it appalling. I was in church this weekend and, while some people are praying and reflecting on their lives, many other people walk in talking like they were at a baseball game and continue their conversations until the moment services begin, and sometimes beyond. I was in a very nice restaurant a few weeks ago and the person three tables over was talking on her cell loud enough for everyone to hear. Finally, someone (perhaps the manger) came over and spoke quietly to her, at which point she looked a bit p'od, but did finally shut up. I'm sure we all see examples just about every day and it's maddening.

 

[lionlurker]

Did they have rulers in their hands??

No, you are thinking of the nuns. It's not rulers that the priests had in their hands.

 

[ApexLion]

There is a lack of decorum and civility in every aspect of public life today and I find it appalling. I was in church this weekend and, while some people are praying and reflecting on their lives, many other people walk in talking like they were at a baseball game and continue their conversations until the moment services begin, and sometimes beyond. I was in a very nice restaurant a few weeks ago and the person three tables over was talking on her cell loud enough for everyone to hear. Finally, someone (perhaps the manger) came over and spoke quietly to her, at which point she looked a bit p'od, but did finally shut up. I'm sure we all see examples just about every day and it's maddening.

My theory and this always makes results in people calling me an old codger, an elitist or worse:

Somewhere along the line we as in 'we' in mainstream working, child rearing, professional etc. society decided that everyone is equal and therefore we all have a right to do whatever we want because, after all, we are all one big, equal group of Americans. So cheering too loudly at a graduation ceremony? So what, right? We all want to do that. Talking at church? Next time, you can talk loudly. Its my turn.

There's a moral relativism that underlies these notions. In other words, no one can judge or be judged because we're all pretty much the same. Right?

Here's my 'colorful' analogy and bear with me, its an analogy: thirty years ago only people with some money and some passion/heightened interest (in general) wore real running clothes. You know what I'm talking about -- expensive gear, not dept. store stuff. You simply couldn't find real running stores with serious gear, particularly in smaller cities. IN GENERAL, the people decked in this gear were real runners and athletes. In general.

Now flash forward to today. This morning, I saw at least 10 people in serious running gear. Most were not in shape. However, that is the norm -- a collection of non-athletes in all the trappings of what was previously primarily worn by real athletes.

I think that's the issue -- we think we are all equal in whatever facet you want to choose. We're not. We are deceiving ourselves with all the trappings. Therefore, we can be an ass or worse -- who is to judge?

 

[kgilbert78]

No, you are thinking of the nuns. It's not rulers that the priests had in their hands.

I'm not Catholic, so I could only go on stories I heard (but I do respect the quality of education given in Catholic schools for the most part).

 

[fairgambit]

My theory and this always makes results in people calling me an old codger, an elitist or worse:
Somewhere along the line we as in 'we' in mainstream working, child rearing, professional etc. society decided that everyone is equal and therefore we all have a right to do whatever we want because, after all, we are all one big, equal group of Americans. So cheering too loudly at a graduation ceremony? So what, right? We all want to do that. Talking at church? Next time, you can talk loudly. Its my turn.
There's a moral relativism that underlies these notions. In other words, no one can judge or be judged because we're all pretty much the same. Right?
Here's my 'colorful' analogy and bear with me, its an analogy: thirty years ago only people with some money and some passion/heightened interest (in general) wore real running clothes. You know what I'm talking about -- expensive gear, not dept. store stuff. You simply couldn't find real running stores with serious gear, particularly in smaller cities. IN GENERAL, the people decked in this gear were real runners and athletes. In general.
Now flash forward to today. This morning, I saw at least 10 people in serious running gear. Most were not in shape. However, that is the norm -- a collection of non-athletes in all the trappings of what was previously primarily worn by real athletes.
I think that's the issue -- we think we are all equal in whatever facet you want to choose. We're not. We are deceiving ourselves with all the trappings. Therefore, we can be an ass or worse -- who is to judge?

Interesting post and one I agree with.

 

[stf110]

Seeing as I graduated from High school in the mid 90s and college in the late 90s and this was a point of contention for some, and something that was brought up by the powers that be at both places every year (granted it is not like YOU the soon to be graduate has a lot of pull over what your bozo friends and or family are going to do no matter what you tell them). This is not an overly new phenomenon. Or at least it has been going on for a good 20 years or so.

It also goes back to the important point, no matter how much you want someone to do something, if they don't want to do it and the repercussions of not doing it does not bother them, you can't make them do it.

 

[ApexLion]

Seeing as I graduated from High school in the mid 90s and college in the late 90s and this was a point of contention for some, and something that was brought up by the powers that be at both places every year (granted it is not like YOU the soon to be graduate has a lot of pull over what your bozo friends and or family are going to do no matter what you tell them). This is not an overly new phenomenon. Or at least it has been going on for a good 20 years or so.

It also goes back to the important point, no matter how much you want someone to do something, if they don't want to do it and the repercussions of not doing it does not bother them, you can't make them do it.

It's the uptick, the prevalence that can be bothersome. There have always been inappropriate acting people, dating back to cave dwellers no doubt. It's the acceptance and prevalence that seems to be on the rise.

Another case in point, or example, regarding the breakdown in public behavior from the world of commerce: Whole Foods announced that they are opening a new line of stores that would be less expensive than their current stores. Its rumored that the stores will be smaller, have different branding and appeal to students and working class Americans. All good but as NPR uncovered one of the drivers for this are polling numbers which show many shoppers trending away from Whole Foods because the stores are associated with unfriendliness. Unfriendliness and Grocery Shopping? Sounds like a bad Thesis paper. Think about that for a second. Unfriendliness becoming an economic driver. Now, chew on this: surveys completed by the public about Whole Foods employees are overwhelmingly positive. So what does that leave us with? A store full of unfriendly shoppers. A large chain is going to open up new stores because they are worried about trending towards unfriendliness and its not their own employees creating the rancor. If that isn't a statement about the public, I don't know what is.

 

[Lions8286]

It's the uptick, the prevalence that can be bothersome. There have always been inappropriate acting people, dating back to cave dwellers no doubt. It's the acceptance and prevalence that seems to be on the rise.

Another case in point, or example, regarding the breakdown in public behavior from the world of commerce: Whole Foods announced that they are opening a new line of stores that would be less expensive than their current stores. Its rumored that the stores will be smaller, have different branding and appeal to students and working class Americans. All good but as NPR uncovered one of the drivers for this are polling numbers which show many shoppers trending away from Whole Foods because the stores are associated with unfriendliness. Unfriendliness and Grocery Shopping? Sounds like a bad Thesis paper. Think about that for a second. Unfriendliness becoming an economic driver. Now, chew on this: surveys completed by the public about Whole Foods employees are overwhelmingly positive. So what does that leave us with? A store full of unfriendly shoppers. A large chain is going to open up new stores because they are worried about trending towards unfriendliness and its not their own employees creating the rancor. If that isn't a statement about the public, I don't know what is.

Funny you should mention that. I was at a grocery store last night, Giant in PA. Sunday nights are always busier than they should be there because there are never enough cash registers open. I walk up to the self-checkout line and there's a young man, probably late teens, at the front of the line with no groceries in hand, letting people go ahead as a register comes available. A few minutes later, coincidentally as I am right behind him, his momma rolls up to the front of the line and takes the next available register. I just shook my head and laughed. Their lives were so important that they needed to hold a place in line ahead of everybody else at the freakin' grocery store.

 

[CF LION]

Dress codes in restaurants always get me. I laid out $100 per person for dinner this weekend at a particular restaurant where the dress code was described as business casual on their website. Two tables over from us was a group with a few guys in shorts. I guess I'm old but I tend to dress a step or two above what is the norm.

Someone once told me that you can never be over-dressed, but you sure as hell can be under-dressed. This has become one of my rules.

 

[ApexLion]

Funny you should mention that. I was at a grocery store last night, Giant in PA. Sunday nights are always busier than they should be there because there are never enough cash registers open. I walk up to the self-checkout line and there's a young man, probably late teens, at the front of the line with no groceries in hand, letting people go ahead as a register comes available. A few minutes later, coincidentally as I am right behind him, his momma rolls up to the front of the line and takes the next available register. I just shook my head and laughed. Their lives were so important that they needed to hold a place in line ahead of everybody else at the freakin' grocery store.

You could have said in a 10-year old voice 'un huh, no jips' and the women might have had a sense of humor? I guess not.