Graduates exit in festive fashion
An estimated 3,000 graduates, along
with their families and friends, got their
wish for warm, sunny weather at the 1984
graduation ceremony. The skies stayed
partly cloudy, but nary a drop fell during
the two-hour commencement, which was
held at Hayward Field June 10.
The initial procession of the black
robed bachelors, masters and doctoral
successes was highlighted with decorated
mortarboards, often sporting a motif of
course study. Many of the architecture
group, for example, constructed
miniature buildings on their headdress.
Others chose the floral motif, with
garlands of shrubbery for necklaces and
blossoms bunched atop their caps. One
woman even painted the short but sweet
message of “Thanks Mom and Dad’’ on
her mortarboard.
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Gordon Wright, history professor
emeritus at Stanford University, gave a
humorous but meaningful address to the
attentive crowd, while former ASUO
Pres. Mary Hotchkiss ended the ceremony
with a personal message of her own.
The sounds of popping champagne
bottles were frequently heard, as the
seated mass attempted to relieve itself of
the day's muggy weather and uncork an
early celebration.
Young and old participated in the
ceremony, too. One baby escorted her
mother out onto the field. And at one
point during the degree confirmations,
University Pres. Paul Olum interrupted
the proceedings to honor Aganetha
Toews, a 77-year-old graduate student
receiving her doctorate.
Photos by Michael Clapp