A tradition from the 13 th century will get an update
as graduates add the Stole of Gratitude to their gowns
BY SAMANTHA BAITS
DAILY EMERALD FREELANCE REPORTER
ihe word “graduation” is
often synonymous with images
X of long dark robes and square
hats — and a feeling of tradition that
dates back centuries.
“Most of it goes back to medieval
times,” said Stacy Miller, the academ
ic regalia coordinator at the Universi
ty Bookstore. “That was how some
one could identify you as a master of
your trade.”
According to the Burgon Society,
a group that studies academic dress,
the gown dates back to the year
1222. In medieval times, churches
were the center of education. In
1222, the Oxford Council ordered
that all secular clergy wear long,
closed robes. This fashion lasted un
til the 15th century, when costumes
began to reflect a more open view of
the world. Some universities still
support wearing the classic dress.
Different colored tassels represent
different disciplines within the Uni
versity. Tams, hats like mortar boards
but with a puffy, beret-like top,
should only be worn by Ph.D. gradu
ates, Miller said.
Honor cords are another color-cod
ed garment. Summa Cum Laude has
a gold cord, Magna Cum Laude has a
silver cord, and Cum Laude has a
white cord. Presidential Honors has a
purple cord, Departmental Honors
has a green cord, and the Robert D.
Clark Honors College has a royal blue
cord. Alpha Phi Omega has a blue
and white cord.
Master’s and Ph.D. graduates wear
hoods in addition to gowns. The
hood is long and triangular with a
pocket at the end. The master’s hood
is smaller than the Ph.D. hood. Like
tassels, hoods have colors that denote
the different schools. Most match the
color of the tassel, except the School
of Journalism and Communication,
which has a white hood and a bur
gundy tassel, and the Lundquist Col
lege of Business, which has a tan
hood and a brown tassel.
Miller said that in the past, people
would throw gifts such as money or
food into the hoods.
A new tradition this year is the
Stole of Gratitude. The stole is a yel
low, scarf-like garment graduates
wear over their shoulders during the
graduation ceremony and present to
someone they wish to thank after
ward. The tradition was picked up
this year after the University of Cali
fornia, Santa Barbara, started it in
2002. Ken Bowers, former director of
the UCSB bookstore, invented the
stole. The Legend of the Stole of Grat
itude is included with the garment.
“It is a made-up legend, but
hopefully it will become a real one,”
said UCSB bookstore worker
Tammy Streeter.
“It really dresses up our gradu
ates,” Miller said. “They’ve been
very popular this year. The most
I’ve sold to a single person is six.
Most take one, but there are people
who take more than one, and that’s
perfectly acceptable.”
As June 11 draws near, soon-to-be
graduates are learning how to wear
their regalia.
“The hardest thing is no one
knows how to put it on,” Miller said.
“It freaks out graduates.”
The staff at the bookstore will help
students with questions about their
regalia, and the bookstore will be
open at 8 a.m. graduation day.
SCHOOLS AND MORTAR
BOARD TASSEL COLORS
• White, gold or copper: College of Arts
and Sciences
• Purple: Law
• Violet: Architecture & Allied Arts
• Brown: Business
• Light blue: Education
• Burgundy: Journalism
• Royal blue: Philosophy
• Pink: Music
SUMMER 2005 UO GEOGRAPHY
The world has many
fascinating geographic sights.
Why not register now
and see for yourself!
University of Oregon
FRIDAY COURSES
• Oregon Field Studies Weeks 1 -4
• Oregon Natural Landscapes Weeks 5-8
SOCIAL SCIENCE REQUIREMENTS
• Human Geography Weeksl-4
• World Regional Geog Weeks 1 -4
• Geog ot US/Canada Weeks 5-8
• Geog Mid East/No Africa Weeks 5-8
• Population & Environment Weeks 1-4
GEOGRAPHY FOR TEACHERS
• Workshop: Geog Social St Weeks 1 -4
o • Seminar Geog Currie Dev Weeks 5-8
Department of Geography • 107 Condon Hall
SCIENCE REQUIREMENTS
GEOG 4/510 • Natural Environment Weeks 1-4 GEOG 141
GEOG 4/510 • Global Environ Change Weeks 5-8 GEOG 143
• Biogeography Weeks 5-8 GEOG 323
GEOG 142 OTHER GEOGRAPHY COURSES
GEOG 201 • Maps/Geospatial Concep Weeks 1 4 GEOG 311
GEOG 208 • Historical Geog (www) Weeks 1-11 GEOG 4/510
GEOG 209 • Intro Geog Info Systems Weeks 5-8 GEOG 4/516
GEOG 341 • Fund Remote Sensing Weeks 1 4 GEOG 4/518
• Environ Alteration Weeks 5-8 GEOG 4/561
GEOG 4/508
GE0G 607 Contact Susan Hardwick:
susanh @ uoregon.edu
11th Ave.
Saturday
Market
See you
Saturday!
www.cugenesaturdaymarket.org
I Alder St.
Campus
Local Crafts • Great Food • Live Entertainment
Every Saturday • 10 am - 5 pm • Rain or Shine • 8th & Oak
Tl&iztn ' '■
www.boux.com
/
Angela Adams '
"Kenga" Bag $85.00
Congrats for a
job well done!
Celebrate your success
with a trip to BOUX!
Bring this ad for a
25% discount on one item
from our superlative
selection of handbags,
jewelry and clothes
including:
• Trina Turk sunglasses
• Mavi jeans
• Bedhead PJs
• Three Dots tee shirts
• Ben Sherman
• Hable Construction handbags
• And lots more!
Offer expires 6/18/05
2827 Oak St. • Eugene • 541.485.4891
10:30-5:30 Mon.-Fri. • 11-4 Sat.