Speaking of graduation, here are a video and some photos of convocation that took place yesterday. The expected protest by pro-Palestinian demonstrators did take place, but it wasn’t serious enough to disrupt the ceremony (see news report below), and so the seniors were able to have their Big Moment. Unfortunately, it drizzled and the ceremony was long, so many students and parents donned plastic ponchos that were provided for free. It often seems to rain on graduation day.
I have to admit that although I’ve witnessed many of these graduations, and hooded some of my students in them, I never get used to it. It’s a tremendous accomplishment (especially here, where the work is hard), and it’s heartwarming to see the students pose before and after the ceremony with their proud parents. (They used to post by Botany Pond, but it’s still under construction and fenced off.)
Because there were restrictions about being on campus, I wasn’t able to wander around freely to photograph, but here are a few things to give a flavor of the day.The police did let me film and take pictures before the ceremony and, from the door of my building, of the procession.
First a video of the beginning of the ceremony. The procession always begins with two bagpipers:
Miscellaneous shots:
Going through Hull Gate to the Quad:
Lots of selfies:
“Only the strong survive” on a mortarboard. Indeed. One of the tee-shirts they sell on campus says: “The University of Chicago: Hell does freeze over.”
There were students wearing keffiyehs, who probably participated in the subsequent walk-out during the ceremony (see below). I avoided taking photos of their faces to avoid implicating them in anything.
Foreground, my friend Eliza Ross, a pro-Israeli activist in the UChicago Maroons for Israel (along with Talia Elkin, Eliza brought charges against the Students for Justice in Palestine for disrupting a Jewish “event” in the Quad. SJP was given a slap on the wrist). I avoided showing her face, but look at her shoes:
She showed them off for me. The Hebrew says “Am Yisrael Chai”—”the people of Israel live.”
Here’s the whole set-up of the stage on the east side of the Quad, but before the students arrived. It’s a panoramic shot, so click to enlarge it.
An Instagram post from UChicago United for Palestine, alerting demonstrators to the graduation protest. I doubt that the masks are for safety against viruses; rather, they hide the identity of protestors so they can avoid punishment:
Here’s a Channel 7 news video of the pro-Palestinian protesters. There was not only a walkout during the ceremony itself, but also a group of non-University protesters to the west of the venue. One of them, not affiliated with the University, was arrested for battery. I tried to film the University protesters, clad in gowns and keffiyehs, as they walked out past my building, chanting “Free free Palestine”, but at that point the campus police wouldn’t let me take any pictures. I don’t think that’s a legal order, but I wasn’t about to buck the campus cops, who were clearly on high alert. Here’s a news report showing some of the protest:
Ahh I remember walking through those gates in my maroon-colored Student Marshal robe 30+ years ago. Brings back memories. No protests that day LOL.
Congratulations to the graduates!
Mazel tov and thank you to Eliza. Amazing that a septuagenarian, emeritus professor is restricted from freely moving about on his own campus. Thank you for getting these shots and the commentary. Glad the disruption wasn’t any worse. It IS nice to have a day to reflect on all of the hard work of the past few years, whether for B.S., M.S., or PhD, take a deep breath, and consider a bit about what’s next.
My first cousin once-removed accepted her bachelor’s degree yesterday; her sister, the year before. LOL. I finally have some family who I can talk with about the experience!
Congratulations to all of the graduates.
Thanks for covering it. Nice kicks on “Eliza”. Glad she felt safe and comfortable enough to wear them on her day.