The Tempest in the Teapot
I graduated from a tiny, rural, Walden Pond-ish college in SC. It is still small. It is the classic teaching college where everyone knows your name AND most of your business. It is a community where the lines can blur between student and professor; where you look out for each other and where you can make lifetime friends. It is a respite, still, from the harsh real world. Unless of course, you make a brilliant and unexpected ruling about what you can wear at Commencement this year.
Then you get the proverbial tempest in a teapot. Even so, small storms can churn the Pond’s waters.
This past week, I got a Facebook notice about an online petition from the Senior class of 2022. The administration banned non-academic cords, badges & sashes. With barely a month to go. So, I signed the petition asking the administration to rescind this ruling. My little school, that graduates less than 200 students most years, got a petition with over 1,100 electronic signees in agreement. That is HUGE NEWS in Walden Pond, believe me!
There were no such things as cords or badges when I graduated. My school does not allow Greek Life sororities and fraternities. Instead, they have a couple of “fraternal-like” Societies with Greek letters. The only Greek Letter societies allowed on campus are the HONOR societies which you must be elected or selected based on contributions in the field OR other quantifiable excellence. I was elected to the national leadership honor society, Omicron Delta Kappa, and the national theatre arts honor society, Alpha Psi Omega. I became President of both on my campus. I would have been proud to wear a cord or a badge representing my work to make them better.
Below is the administrations’ response to said petition:
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"Dear Prospective 2022 Erskine Graduates:
For several years, the administration has had numerous discussions about the use of cords, stoles, and sashes during the graduation ceremony. The use of cords, stoles, and sashes by clubs, societies, or participation awards that are not part of Erskine’s academic division has diminished the essential aim of recognizing students’ academic achievements. I encourage you to be mindful that commencement is an official Erskine event designated to recognize academic completion and academic achievement. After much consideration, the administration has clarified the decision about who is permitted to wear cords during the actual commencement ceremony. The guidelines for the wearing of cords, stoles, and sashes are as follows:
The only cords allowed during the graduation ceremony are Latin citations (GPA of 3.6 or higher), academic organizations (GPA of 3.6 or higher) academic department honors (GPA of 3.6 or higher), and the athletic-academic achievement cord (GPA of 3.6 or higher).
As stated previously, to guarantee the requirement that students receiving this honor have a 3.6 or higher GPA, the Registrar's Office will be responsible for distributing cords to all students.
Additionally, graduates can wear non-academic cords, stoles, and sashes during Baccalaureate on Friday evening.
These changes were made to ensure that the focus of commencement is, as it should be, on the completion of your academic studies at Erskine."
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Here’s the deal-this was an ill-considered ruling dumped on the class of 2022 at the eleventh hour. I believe Honor Society cords or badges should be allowed. I do not think a membership in one of the local societies warrants a graduation recognition. I did join a local society, and it was fun, but it was not in this league. The real catch here is that for ANY cords to be worn, you must still achieve a 3.6 or above GPA.
My college talks a lot about developing a well-rounded person. Some of that comes in the form of learning how to contribute, work as a team, lead change, and become a good community citizen. In times where big schools are rated for their “party atmosphere” and valued by “kegger ratings”, why would you be upset about your student’s excellence in the world beyond their classroom? And, what if you worked really hard, but couldn’t get past Econ or Physics with a decent grade? What if you were a campus leader in many respects, but have a respectable 3.4 GPA?
We need more people contributing to our society, not less. Excellence in leadership, field of study, and academic rigor ALL deserve recognition. If our goal is to develop the whole person, why is the baseline of recognition during the one public ceremony, solely a very high 3.6 GPA?
You only do your college Commencement once.
I say wear your Honor Society cords, Class of 2022. Pull them out of your gown pockets and drape them around your necks as you begin your procession. They won’t stop you with your friends and family present.
I also promise you this- the lessons you learned being a good team member, making things happen, leading others towards a worthy goal WILL BE WHAT MATTERS AS YOU GO THROUGH LIFE.
Not your GPA.
Best Wishes,
Bonnie Burkett, Class of ‘76, Summa Cum Laude,
Erskine College, Due West, SC
