Lebogang Tlou unveils some of the mysteries of the gowned grandeur of Rhodes University's graduation ceremonies.
Lebogang Tlou unveils some of the mysteries of the gowned grandeur of Rhodes University's graduation ceremonies.
Grahamstown B&Bs are bursting with proud parents, New Street nightlife is buzzing, restauranteurs are being rushed off their feet and students are gearing up to go all-out in the glamour stakes for the grad ball.
But what's it all about, really? "In admitting a person to a degree, the degree is conferred on that person in a somewhat archaic ceremony reminiscent of the equally archaic ceremony in which a knighthood is conferred," said Dr Stephen Fourie, Registrar at Rhodes University.
"What happens in a graduation ceremony is that the Dean requests the Chancellor to confer the degree," Fourie explained. "The student then moves to the Chancellor and kneels before him. "The Chancellor then confers the degree by holding a ceremonial bonnet to the student's head, saying, 'I confer the degree'.
"The student then proceeds to me [the registrar]and I place the appropriate hood over the student's head. There is a hood for each degree, and they differ from each other in colour and shape."
Graduation who's who
Here is a guide to the panel of academics who preside over the graduation process.
Dean of Faculty: Head of a Faculty and the person who confirms to the chancellor that a particular student has achieved the required level neccessary to receive a degree.
Chancellor: Head of the university, and the person who confers the degree.
Registrar: Keeper of the records of students' endeavours.
The hoods the graduates wear
BA – Black, lined with white and bound with purple. MA – Black, lined and edged with white. BJourn – Black, lined with cherry red. BSc – Black, lined with bottle green. BPharm – Black, lined with chartreuse and paced with bottle green. LLB – Black, lined with old gold. BCom – Black, lined with primrose yellow. PhD – Black, lined and edged with scarlet.'
* Information provided by Doctor Stephen Fourie, Registrar of Rhodes University.
