Staff members receive hooding privileges

Rhodes staff members will be able to “hood” their own children at graduation this year, the first time since Rhodes University was born.

Next week, parents will take on what has traditionally been the role of the Registrar.

For many parents this act has a very significant meaning. 

Rhodes staff members will be able to “hood” their own children at graduation this year, the first time since Rhodes University was born.

Next week, parents will take on what has traditionally been the role of the Registrar.

For many parents this act has a very significant meaning. 

Dawn Long is the mother of two students graduating this year, Roxanne and Kelly Ann Long.

"It has quite a powerful meaning for me because I'm a single mom and so to have got them this far and then for me to be able to actually hood them is amazing."

As of this week, the confirmed number of students graduating this year is 2 318. Ceremonies take place on 10, 11 and 12 April.

Here are stories from some proud parents who will be hooding their own children at graduation this year:

“I jumped at the opportunity when I got the e-mail – I thought it was a really nice touch,” said Chris Upfold, senior lecturer in the Information Systems Department, who will be hooding his daughter, Nicole, this Saturday.
Upfold says there wasn’t much deliberation about the decision: “I wanted to give it a go – it’s a bit of fun.” While he is excited for the special hooding, Upfold says the real joy and excitement is the entire graduation.
“You’re just so proud as a parent – the hooding is a great personal touch – but it’s the whole graduation that I’m excited for.”
Nicole, a former Victoria Girls School student, is graduating with a BSc in entomology and microbiology.
“She got two distinctions,” Upfold glows. “She’s done incredibly well.”
Nicoles younger sister, Jenny is following in Nicole’s footsteps. She is in first year, also studying entomology and microbiology, but hoping to incorporate Journalism and Media Studies into her degree. (Text: Eva Euijen / Photo: Carol Kagezi)

Professor Emeritus, Paul Walters of the Rhodes English department is more closely linked with graduation than most.This is not only the graduation of his fourth and final son, William, but the sixth Rhodes graduate in the family – Walters himself and his father-in-law accounting for the other two.Walters admits that he has not attended every graduation, but “most of them since 1979”. A self-proclaimed lover of ceremony, Walters attended his own graduation from Rhodes, first his BA Honours in 1966, and PhD in 1971 – when graduation was held in the Great Hall and a clean version of “The Animals Came in Two by Two” was sung as the staff entered. No stranger to Rhodes graduation and an intimate part of the ceremony in his four years as public orator, Walters is encouraging of this “exciting innovation” and commends Rhodes for leading from the front with a wonderful idea. Additionally, he is glad this graduation will be “special for William the forth,” with the inclusion of this expansive idea. “This is fantastic – a real capping of the experience!” said Walters with a smile. William is graduating with a triple major in English, History and Psychology. He is currently studying toward his PGCE. (Text: Eva Euijen / Photo: Carol Kagezi)

"It has been a long journey, so to be on stage with them will be perfect," says Dawn Long, mother of two Rhodes University graduates.
Long will hood her daughters, Caitlyn and Roxanne, with a BFA with distinction and a BEd respectively.
The daughters are the first in the immediate family to graduate from university.
Albeit a tough experience raising her family as a single parent, Long is proud to have watched her daughters thrive.
"My daughters have grown in the last four year,"’ says Long with beaming eyes.
Long works as a teaching assistant and project officer in the School of Journalism and Media Studies at Rhodes.
She says students and parents should keep their eyes fixed firmly on their academic goals: "Obtaining the degree after all that hard work is worth it." (Text and photo: Tshiamo Maremela)

Doctor Alan Kirkaldy of the History department was the first in his family to attain a degree, so graduation has always been a significant celebration.
He completed his BA and Honours at Rhodes University, and went on to study further at UCT.
He is enthusiastic about the symbolic ritual of graduation.
“It’s a culmination of effort – yours and others.”
And it is, years of hard work put in by oneself, one’s lecturers and one’s family. “Effort,” Kirkaldy muses, then adds “and money.” “It’s a great idea,” Kirkaldy said of the hooding. “It’s nice to be involved, but especially when it’s your own child.” He says he would love to be able to participate in his younger son, Ben’s, graduation in the same way when the time comes, providing Ben would like him to and does not consider it too “un-cool.” (Text: Eva Euijen / Photo: Carol Kagezi)

Professor of Psychology at Rhodes University, Catriona Macleod will be hooding her husband John Reynolds at this year’s graduation ceremony. Dr Reynolds will be receiving his PhD in Sociology which he completed in three years, of which only nine months were full time.
The graduation ceremony will be a family affair for Macleod and Reynolds. Their two children, aged 16 and 10, will both be there. Their eldest previously attended the ceremony when Macleod received a Book Award in 2012.
“He takes his book and he reads so that he does not get too bored and fidgety,” said Macleod.
She said she was looking forward to hooding her husband.
“Having a family member do it is quite symbolic. Graduations are about family and friends – it's an acknowledgement of the support the family has given and celebrates not only the achievement of the person but also the pride of the family,” she said. Her only worry about graduation: “I just mustn’t trip over my shoes.” (Text: Siphokazi Zama / Photo: Tamani Chithambo)

Prof Anthea Garman and husband Brian feel “extremely lucky and honoured” to be the only couple hooding a child this graduation. Their daughter, Gemma, is graduating with a BFA in print making. Brian is a senior design lecturer in the School of Journalism and Media Studies, while Anthea is an Associate Professor in the same school.
“I really like the idea,” said Brian. “It makes it possible for graduation – which can be quite impersonal, formal and ritualistic in nature – to be a more personal occasion and celebration.” Brian commended and praised Rhodes University for thinking of and taking an “incredible, unusual step” to personalising graduation.
After attending many a past graduation to cheer on the success of their students, the Garmans are looking forward to celebrating Gemma’s effort and their own commitment. “To stand up with your child shows you played a visible role. You go through so many of the ups and downs with your students – and then with your own child – and it just acknowledges that you’ve all really done it.”  (Text: Eva Euijen / Photo: Carol Kagezi)

Carol Leff has multiple reasons to look forward to this year’s graduation hooding ceremony on Saturday morning.
Both she and her daughter, Nathalia von Witt, will be sharing the stage, as both are receiving degrees this year.
Leff, the Institute for the Study of English in Africa (ISEA) administrative coordinator, said she has been eager to participate from the beginning, especially since her daughter was so excited (rather than embarrassment) at the concept.
“I found the idea interesting, and because it’s the first time I thought it would be intriguing to see what happens.
"It’s allowing for more involvement with the family and children – it’s quite special,” Leff said.
Von Witt has attained her Honours in isiXhosa and Linguistics, and is continuing at Rhodes next year with her Masters in isiXhosa. Leff will be receiving her Masters in English.
And just to prove that it all runs in the family, both mother and daughter are graduating cum laude. (Text: Eva Euijen / Photo: Carol Kagezi)

Distinguished Professor Christopher McQuaid is always excited for graduation, this year just a little more so. “You work closely with students and develop relationships with them, so I always enjoy the graduation experience – you feel proud watching them up on the stage.”
He is looking forward to hooding Isla, his third and final child to graduate from Rhodes University, on Saturday.
She is graduating with a triple major in Biochemistry, HKE and Zoology, and going on to study for a Medical-biochemistry Honours at UCT. McQuaid is in fact an old hat (pun intended) at hooding. When his second child, Kirsty, received her BSc two years ago, McQuaid specifically asked if he could be allowed to cap his daughter, and now it appears the idea has caught on. Chair of Zoology and SARCHI Research Chair in Marine Biology, McQuaid has seen both Isla and older sister Kirsty through his own department, and taught them both at some point. “Graduation is always a special occasion, but doubly so when it’s your own child.” (Text: Eva Euijen / Photo: Carol Kagezi)