Comments on: Multi-mini-graduations http://www.joannejacobs.com/2007/06/multi-mini-graduations/ Thinking and Linking by Joanne Jacobs Fri, 10 Feb 2012 04:51:22 +0000 hourly 1 By: allen http://www.joannejacobs.com/2007/06/multi-mini-graduations/#comment-34261 allen Thu, 21 Jun 2007 17:56:14 +0000 http://joannejacobs.com/?p=4563#comment-34261 <i>Many universities do hold separate ceremonies organized by major, </i> Which makes some sense but racial discrimination is inherently corrosive of a democracy since the clear implication is of two classes of citizens. Distinct social classes may be alright for a monarchy or a socialist state but not for a democracy since, as we all know, separate but equal is always separate but never equal. If some group of students wants to go have a party and invite only the other transgendered, tone-deaf, Asian males then I say whip out your checkbook and party hearty. But as a function of a state-supported institution these separate graduation ceremonies have no place. I'll go out on a bit of a limb here and predict that university officials and identity group supporters are already having trouble maintaining racial purity. Going to the (insert identity group here) graduation <i>and</i> the big graduation/s is asking a lot. When a choice has to be made the much smaller graduation of "our kind" is going to look pretty parochial. To maintain the numbers necessary to demand a separate graduation I'll guess that there's some degree of arm-twisting, with more over time. Many universities do hold separate ceremonies organized by major,

Which makes some sense but racial discrimination is inherently corrosive of a democracy since the clear implication is of two classes of citizens. Distinct social classes may be alright for a monarchy or a socialist state but not for a democracy since, as we all know, separate but equal is always separate but never equal.

If some group of students wants to go have a party and invite only the other transgendered, tone-deaf, Asian males then I say whip out your checkbook and party hearty. But as a function of a state-supported institution these separate graduation ceremonies have no place.

I’ll go out on a bit of a limb here and predict that university officials and identity group supporters are already having trouble maintaining racial purity. Going to the (insert identity group here) graduation and the big graduation/s is asking a lot. When a choice has to be made the much smaller graduation of “our kind” is going to look pretty parochial.

To maintain the numbers necessary to demand a separate graduation I’ll guess that there’s some degree of arm-twisting, with more over time.

]]> By: michael http://www.joannejacobs.com/2007/06/multi-mini-graduations/#comment-34260 michael Thu, 21 Jun 2007 12:40:26 +0000 http://joannejacobs.com/?p=4563#comment-34260 Went to the grad ceremony for the school of science at Penn State. Out of approximately 400 graduates, only a dozen or so were black. The rest were an even split between whites and asian/indian/middle eastern students. Went to the grad ceremony for the school of science at Penn State. Out of approximately 400 graduates, only a dozen or so were black. The rest were an even split between whites and asian/indian/middle eastern students.

]]> By: boulder Math Tutor http://www.joannejacobs.com/2007/06/multi-mini-graduations/#comment-34259 boulder Math Tutor Thu, 21 Jun 2007 02:08:55 +0000 http://joannejacobs.com/?p=4563#comment-34259 I can understand having clubs for these different groups. But seperate graduations? Mark I can understand having clubs for these different groups. But seperate graduations?

Mark

]]> By: Walter E. Wallis http://www.joannejacobs.com/2007/06/multi-mini-graduations/#comment-34258 Walter E. Wallis Wed, 20 Jun 2007 20:05:39 +0000 http://joannejacobs.com/?p=4563#comment-34258 It can be embarassing, sometimes, when all the lib arts grads are white and all the engineering grads are Asian. It can be embarassing, sometimes, when all the lib arts grads are white and all the engineering grads are Asian.

]]> By: Joanne http://www.joannejacobs.com/2007/06/multi-mini-graduations/#comment-34257 Joanne Wed, 20 Jun 2007 19:21:42 +0000 http://joannejacobs.com/?p=4563#comment-34257 Many universities do hold separate ceremonies organized by major, so every student can hear his or her name called and receive a diploma and hand shake from the head of the department. I know Cornell and Stanford do this. Many universities do hold separate ceremonies organized by major, so every student can hear his or her name called and receive a diploma and hand shake from the head of the department. I know Cornell and Stanford do this.

]]> By: Walter E. Wallis http://www.joannejacobs.com/2007/06/multi-mini-graduations/#comment-34256 Walter E. Wallis Wed, 20 Jun 2007 18:08:11 +0000 http://joannejacobs.com/?p=4563#comment-34256 The KKK used to say "The Nigra don't want to mix with us, it's just those outside agitators." The KKK used to say “The Nigra don’t want to mix with us, it’s just those outside agitators.”

]]> By: Marta http://www.joannejacobs.com/2007/06/multi-mini-graduations/#comment-34255 Marta Wed, 20 Jun 2007 17:47:22 +0000 http://joannejacobs.com/?p=4563#comment-34255 If smaller, more personal, ceremonies is what they want, why not organize them by major rather than ethnicity? If smaller, more personal, ceremonies is what they want, why not organize them by major rather than ethnicity?

]]> By: allen http://www.joannejacobs.com/2007/06/multi-mini-graduations/#comment-34254 allen Wed, 20 Jun 2007 15:34:38 +0000 http://joannejacobs.com/?p=4563#comment-34254 What's that sound I hear? Ah yes, the sound of chickens coming home to roost. I just wonder how quickly the artifacts of identity politics will collapse as identity fervor dissipates and the costs become clearer? Can't be quick enough for me. What’s that sound I hear? Ah yes, the sound of chickens coming home to roost.

I just wonder how quickly the artifacts of identity politics will collapse as identity fervor dissipates and the costs become clearer? Can’t be quick enough for me.

]]> By: Elizabeth http://www.joannejacobs.com/2007/06/multi-mini-graduations/#comment-34253 Elizabeth Wed, 20 Jun 2007 14:58:18 +0000 http://joannejacobs.com/?p=4563#comment-34253 At the small midwest school I went to, the Association for African American Students (AAAS) had a seperate event for black students. There were two slight controversies about this my year. The first being a member wanted his future wife (married 2 weeks post graduation) to be included. She was white (ended up being allowed to participate). The other was not quite as public. A friend of mine was in the school of music (she and another senior guy were the two minorities in the entire school of music). When she spoke to someone about the ceremony, that person (a student leader in the club) was unsure if they should be included, after all they didn't hang out with the AAAS students much, only with "those people" in the school of music. Considering that's where all there classes/rehersals/free time spent was, it shoudn't be surprising that the music school is where they made their close friends. Apparantly some people didn't think she was black enough. She shook her head and the two music school people attended anyway. At the small midwest school I went to, the Association for African American Students (AAAS) had a seperate event for black students. There were two slight controversies about this my year. The first being a member wanted his future wife (married 2 weeks post graduation) to be included. She was white (ended up being allowed to participate).
The other was not quite as public. A friend of mine was in the school of music (she and another senior guy were the two minorities in the entire school of music). When she spoke to someone about the ceremony, that person (a student leader in the club) was unsure if they should be included, after all they didn’t hang out with the AAAS students much, only with “those people” in the school of music. Considering that’s where all there classes/rehersals/free time spent was, it shoudn’t be surprising that the music school is where they made their close friends. Apparantly some people didn’t think she was black enough. She shook her head and the two music school people attended anyway.

]]> By: Walter E. Wallis http://www.joannejacobs.com/2007/06/multi-mini-graduations/#comment-34252 Walter E. Wallis Wed, 20 Jun 2007 13:42:40 +0000 http://joannejacobs.com/?p=4563#comment-34252 Self inflicted Jim Crow. What a time saver. Self inflicted Jim Crow. What a time saver.

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