Whooping at a graduation

Welliesandtweed · 2025-08-07T17:35:41+00:00

I attended my sisters MSc graduation today. Mostly undergraduates and a few post grads. There were some sections of the audience whooping when the names were called out. Is it not a little crass to whooping at a formal event.

MissScarletInTheBallroom · 09/08/2025 06:48

This is totally normal. How weird to complain about it on Mumsnet.

PistachioTiramisuLimoncello · 09/08/2025 06:46

mbosnz · 08/08/2025 19:43

Heh heh. In New Zealand it's fairly common for a whanau (family) to crack out a haka as their tamaiti crosses the stage as they graduate. Personally I loved it when it happened for a fellow graduate at my graduation, my parents of course were mortified. What on EARTH was the world coming to? So inappropriate! So undignified! (Oh, and there was much whooping, catcalling and whistling too. . .)

💛👏

mbosnz · 08/08/2025 19:43

Heh heh. In New Zealand it's fairly common for a whanau (family) to crack out a haka as their tamaiti crosses the stage as they graduate. Personally I loved it when it happened for a fellow graduate at my graduation, my parents of course were mortified. What on EARTH was the world coming to? So inappropriate! So undignified! (Oh, and there was much whooping, catcalling and whistling too. . .)

UsingAMansNameInAWomensWorld · 08/08/2025 19:42

lovemeblender · 08/08/2025 17:17

This seems much more appropriate to me, and no anxiety for graduates who don't have anyone whooping/cheering/whistling for them. I'm not sure when and/or why we've become loud like this, I was with a relative in A&E recently and every time someone was moved to the ward they were clapped out .

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I've never been to one where no one got cheered/clapped

People would cheer and clap every name.

UsingAMansNameInAWomensWorld · 08/08/2025 19:40

ghostyslovesheets · 08/08/2025 13:55

My DD1 graduated 3 weeks ago - we were told to cheer as it was a celebration of them and those who had supported them - it was fabulous. They made all the grads turn and face us at the end and told them all to cheer loudly for us - then we did the same!

We did this at mine

The Dean said something like "all those people behind you are the people who supported you to get here so turn and face them and give them a huge cheer to thank them"

tilypu · 08/08/2025 19:19

This has been encouraged at every graduation that I've been to. I think it's lovely!

honeyfox · 08/08/2025 19:15

Mine was a fairly traditional graduation and there was no whooping, I would have enjoyed it! The whole ceremony was in Latin so it might have brightened it up.

Grapewrath · 08/08/2025 19:11

You sound fun.
DD went to a Russel Group Uni and cheers were encouraged- it’s a celebration ffs
we made loads of noise as most did other families. It was such a lovely vibe
I felt a bit sad for the kids who didn’t get anything but a polite clap

Hoardasauruskaren · 08/08/2025 17:56

Chemenger · 08/08/2025 15:59

At Glasgow everyone has to sing Gaudeamus Igitur (probably spelled wrong). The organist teaches it to everyone before hand, it’s very jolly.

I have attended graduations at Glashow 2 yrs in a row. It is lovely, isn’t it! And they encouraged cheering too!

Hoardasauruskaren · 08/08/2025 17:53

Onthewaytothemountains · 08/08/2025 17:34

At the University I worked at, the students after graduating lined up outside the venue and cheered the parents and family as they left the venue. Staff were given various roles to administer the ceremony, and one of those roles was to encourage the students to cheer the parents. The parents seemed to love it.

This is lovely! At DS graduations they acknowledged the parents/family etc at the end of the ceremony with clapping & cheering.

ghostyslovesheets · 08/08/2025 17:48

HighLadyofTheNightCourt · 08/08/2025 15:44

I wonder if this was at my university? We do this.

The acknowledgment of those that helped and supported the students is always a nice touch.

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Uni of Manchester

Onthewaytothemountains · 08/08/2025 17:34

At the University I worked at, the students after graduating lined up outside the venue and cheered the parents and family as they left the venue. Staff were given various roles to administer the ceremony, and one of those roles was to encourage the students to cheer the parents. The parents seemed to love it.

ErlingHaalandsManBun · 08/08/2025 17:20

I'm going to whoop, whoop and whoop some more when my DD graduates. Is it crass? Couldn't give a toss 😂

lovemeblender · 08/08/2025 17:17

cloudtreecarpet · 08/08/2025 17:01

My child graduated from Cambridge this year & we were asked not to clap or cheer at all.
I wasn't sure how that would be to be honest but actually it was good because the focus was on each student and you could hear every name that was read out.

I think they do it more for speed than anything else but it did make the ceremony feel very important & I found i liked it like that.

This seems much more appropriate to me, and no anxiety for graduates who don't have anyone whooping/cheering/whistling for them. I'm not sure when and/or why we've become loud like this, I was with a relative in A&E recently and every time someone was moved to the ward they were clapped out .

PistachioTiramisuLimoncello · 08/08/2025 17:02

Oh give over!

cloudtreecarpet · 08/08/2025 17:01

My child graduated from Cambridge this year & we were asked not to clap or cheer at all.
I wasn't sure how that would be to be honest but actually it was good because the focus was on each student and you could hear every name that was read out.

I think they do it more for speed than anything else but it did make the ceremony feel very important & I found i liked it like that.

GETTINGLIKEMYMOTHER · 08/08/2025 16:13

Messycoo · 07/08/2025 21:55

Yes it is crass and we are not Americans!

Talking of American graduations, we attended American niece’s graduation at Berkeley.
I was startled to say the least when the music all the graduates trooped in to, was Elgar’s Pomp and Circumstance No. 1! (Without the Land of Hope and Glory bit though)

HighLadyofTheNightCourt · 08/08/2025 16:10

Chemenger · 08/08/2025 15:56

Mine does it too (or maybe it’s all the same place).

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Perhaps… or maybe more universities are making them more fun. They’re a celebration and I love it when they feel that way!

FancyCatSlave · 08/08/2025 16:02

I work in HE, it’s absolutely encouraged at ours. They tell people at the beginning to make as much noise as they please. We don’t want them to be stuffy affairs these days, they should be fun.

Chemenger · 08/08/2025 15:59

At Glasgow everyone has to sing Gaudeamus Igitur (probably spelled wrong). The organist teaches it to everyone before hand, it’s very jolly.

Chemenger · 08/08/2025 15:56

HighLadyofTheNightCourt · 08/08/2025 15:44

I wonder if this was at my university? We do this.

The acknowledgment of those that helped and supported the students is always a nice touch.

Show quote history

Mine does it too (or maybe it’s all the same place).

HighLadyofTheNightCourt · 08/08/2025 15:44

ghostyslovesheets · 08/08/2025 13:55

My DD1 graduated 3 weeks ago - we were told to cheer as it was a celebration of them and those who had supported them - it was fabulous. They made all the grads turn and face us at the end and told them all to cheer loudly for us - then we did the same!

I wonder if this was at my university? We do this.

The acknowledgment of those that helped and supported the students is always a nice touch.

ghostyslovesheets · 08/08/2025 15:22

AgeingDoc · 08/08/2025 15:13

Oh that's hideous. I hope my DS isn't subjected to anything like that at his graduation in a couple of weeks. Letting people cheer, whoop or pretend they are part of the ministry of funny walks is one thing but trying to enforce it is absolutely no better than forcing people to sit in silence. My DS will no doubt scurry across the stage as quickly as possible making eye contact with no one and then get the hell out of Dodge at the earliest opportunity. And he, and other people like him are just as entitled to do that as those who want to moonwalk across the stage.

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😂

AgeingDoc · 08/08/2025 15:13

ghostyslovesheets · 08/08/2025 13:55

My DD1 graduated 3 weeks ago - we were told to cheer as it was a celebration of them and those who had supported them - it was fabulous. They made all the grads turn and face us at the end and told them all to cheer loudly for us - then we did the same!

Oh that's hideous. I hope my DS isn't subjected to anything like that at his graduation in a couple of weeks. Letting people cheer, whoop or pretend they are part of the ministry of funny walks is one thing but trying to enforce it is absolutely no better than forcing people to sit in silence. My DS will no doubt scurry across the stage as quickly as possible making eye contact with no one and then get the hell out of Dodge at the earliest opportunity. And he, and other people like him are just as entitled to do that as those who want to moonwalk across the stage.

ghostyslovesheets · 08/08/2025 13:55

My DD1 graduated 3 weeks ago - we were told to cheer as it was a celebration of them and those who had supported them - it was fabulous. They made all the grads turn and face us at the end and told them all to cheer loudly for us - then we did the same!