Honorary Graduands

[MuffinToptheMule]

Am I the only person who is annoyed by honorary graduands? I graduated last year and was very glad that at my particular ceremony there were no honorary graduands. Some of my friends however did have an honorary graduand at their ceremony. Quite a large proportion of the ceremony is taken up by honouring the honorary graduand and the focus is upon them.

I find this so offensive. The ceremony should be about the real graduates. The ones who have worked hard for years to gain their degree.

I've just thought about it now because it's graduation season again and I've just seen a news article about an honorary graduand at a local university.

AIBU to be annoyed by this?

I think the whole thing of honorary degrees is ridiculous, to be honest. What is the point of getting a degree for something you have never studied?

I'd agree regardless of the person.
If Mandela didn't sit and pass the exams then F-off, honour him at some other time of the year on his own if you want but graduation day should be for the people who,you know, actually passed and graduated that day.

YANBU. At my graduation, they gave an honorary degree to Rupert Murdoch, and spent half the ceremony time saying how wonderful he was. Didn't turn out so great, did he?

I think it would be great fun to have some interesting personality picking up a degree when you graduate. The ceremonies are pretty long and unmemorable otherwise and most would rather get it over with, do the photo, lose the drapes and head off to the pub with their mates, anyway. I'm sure friends and family make a much bigger fuss of the graduate than of the honorary graduand every time.

YABU

Can you imagine going to a doctor and asking him where he studied...'oh it was an honorary degree!'