Active discussions

Meet the Other Phone. Only the apps you allow.

Meet the Other Phone.
Only the apps you allow.

Buy now

Please or to access all these features

Talk
AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

Whooping at a graduation

129 replies

Welliesandtweed · 07/08/2025 18:35

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.

OP posts:
Darragon · 07/08/2025 22:58

I think you should just be grateful if a bit of enthusiastic whooping was the worst you had to put up with, some people have had to deal with giant flags obscuring parts of the stage while their loved ones are trying to have their special moment, or flag wavers being in the way of photos during graduations, and universities don't seem to take any responsibility for sorting it out.

UsingAMansNameInAWomensWorld · 07/08/2025 23:01

I've worked a fair few graduations in different capacities

Cheering is encouraged

It's a celebration

And a lot of the whoops and loudest noises came from those of African heritage as a cultural thing

ayepecking · 07/08/2025 23:25

Everything is being dumbed down OP, unfortunately.

Sounds very Americanised.

What's wrong with clapping?

Victoria39 · 07/08/2025 23:45

This reply has been deleted

Message deleted by MNHQ. Here's a link to our Talk Guidelines.

you forgot too finish your sentence 🤡

saraclara · 07/08/2025 23:46

It's okay unless the whooping drowns out the next graduand's name. That's incredibly selfish.

My daughter went to a big uni, so at her graduation, names were called out in rapid succession. I don't think there was time for even a short whoop before the next name. In that situation, whooping would be unreasonable.

Arlanymor · 07/08/2025 23:46

Victoria39 · 07/08/2025 23:45

you forgot too finish your sentence 🤡

Show quote history

’Too’ finish your sentence? 🤡

Victoria39 · 07/08/2025 23:47

Clapping is enough. Dancing can be done later in a suitable venue, dogs shouldn't be there at all
unless it’s a guide dog. Children can be there but only if they sit and be quiet.

Lavender14 · 07/08/2025 23:51

I think life is just too short to be bothered by this op.

I remember getting to watch someone who had very little, abusive family, learning difficulty, who had come through the care system and overcame just so many barriers collect her degree which she'd worked her backside off for and she deserved every cheer she got.

Screw formalities l was absolutely delighted for her and I think it meant a lot for her to hear people in her corner celebrating her since her family couldn't be those people.

I loved hearing it for other people at my own graduations and I think it creates a much warmer ceremony that is less about 'pomp' and more about recognition of the person on the stage. Because they don't all get the same equal starting point.

Lavender14 · 07/08/2025 23:52

saraclara · 07/08/2025 23:46

It's okay unless the whooping drowns out the next graduand's name. That's incredibly selfish.

My daughter went to a big uni, so at her graduation, names were called out in rapid succession. I don't think there was time for even a short whoop before the next name. In that situation, whooping would be unreasonable.

This is understandable, but I also think it's a bit sad when it's done like this, I think it starts to feel like a conveyor belt.

Hoardasauruskaren · 07/08/2025 23:54

Aparecium · 07/08/2025 22:06

At ds's graduation the senior bod introducing the ceremony (Vice-Chancellor?) explicitly told the audience that people were welcome to make as much noise as they liked for their graduand(s), but only while their graduand was on the stage. It was a lovely ceremony, not too long, and very happy.

Same at my DS graduations at a very old Russel Group uni where the ( very formal) graduation takes place in a magnificent old hall. Then at the end we were all asked to clap & cheer & told it wasn't loud enough! It’s a celebration!

KenAdams · 07/08/2025 23:59

I've long given up trying to impress people who think they are better than me with my behaviour. Whoop and cheer their commitment all you want (while they are on stage) and don't try and be composed for people who will look down on you anyway whoops at said people on this thread

AgeingDoc · 08/08/2025 00:06

Well I suppose it's better than snoring which I think quite a few people were doing at my graduation - and that was just the graduands, I expect the audience were even more bored.
I don't think I've ever whooped at anything in my life and I'm not planning on starting at my DC's graduations but as others have said, as long as it's not excessive and drowns out the next person's name what other people do is their business.

mathanxiety · 08/08/2025 00:21

SapphOhNo · 07/08/2025 18:43

Its not a solemn event. It's a celebration of what students have achieved. Whooping is fine.

It's a celebration of everyone's gard work and achievement.

Whooping is only ok if the name of the next graduate to walk across the stage isn't drowned out by the raucous section.

CarpetKnees · 08/08/2025 00:30

YANBU at all, but it is the way of the world in so many places.

Some people even whoop in the theatre.

Some people struggle with knowing how to behave in different environments.

Mercurial123 · 08/08/2025 07:43

Victoria39 · 07/08/2025 23:47

Clapping is enough. Dancing can be done later in a suitable venue, dogs shouldn't be there at all
unless it’s a guide dog. Children can be there but only if they sit and be quiet.

Sounds utterly joyless.

Ohwhatfuckeryitistoride · 08/08/2025 07:55

When my son, mature student, generally quiet and shy, struggled to make friends at school went out on stage and his friends gave him a huge cheer, it was a lovely moment. Believe me there were less dignified things happen.

Simonjt · 08/08/2025 08:01

Hoardasauruskaren · 07/08/2025 23:54

Same at my DS graduations at a very old Russel Group uni where the ( very formal) graduation takes place in a magnificent old hall. Then at the end we were all asked to clap & cheer & told it wasn't loud enough! It’s a celebration!

Show quote history

The university I attended encouraged it, and staff on the stage made sure to celebrate every student as well, a graduation should be a celebration. A very formal uni too, we had to wear our academic dress for in person exams.

Viviennemary · 08/08/2025 08:02

It's shocking. Totally crass and extremely bad mannered.

PrincessOfPreschool · 08/08/2025 08:22

Suck the joy out of life, why don't you?

I hate all this: people need to behave just like me, because obviously I'm the best, gave the best taste, been brought up in the best way. Is it worse to whoop at a graduation or have a general sense of superiority towards others?

I don't think I would whoop at DC graduation, probably whistle (is that OK?), but if others are doing it I would enjoy their joy at the event.

LetMeGoogleThat · 08/08/2025 08:27

I noticed this at my son's graduation, some made so much noise that it drowned out the next person's announcement.

awkwardasfuck · 08/08/2025 08:31

Welliesandtweed · 07/08/2025 18:35

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.

YABU our families were encouraged by the Vice Chancellor to cheer us on as loudly as they liked.

It is formal, not miserable.

Chemenger · 08/08/2025 08:40

ayepecking · 07/08/2025 23:25

Everything is being dumbed down OP, unfortunately.

Sounds very Americanised.

What's wrong with clapping?

I graduated in 1984, there was cheering then, in one of the most spectacular graduation halls in the country, during a ceremony held entirely in Latin. Maybe it’s less solemn than the 19th century but cheering isn’t new. As an academic I’ve probably been to more graduations than most people (30+). All have had cheering. Why should it be solemn anyway? It’s a celebration of years of hard work and achievement.

The students cheer for their classmates who they know have had a hard time, or have been leaders in the class. They are also the ones that get more than three claps from the academics on the platform. Sometimes they cheer for people they know are bitterly disappointed with their degree. Sometimes a student we have not noticed anything about gets a huge cheer which is always intriguing. The ceremony belongs to the students, they can cheer if they want. I also personally love it when a proud parent stands up and gives a solo cheer, there is nothing to be ashamed of if they are proud of them. We had one principal who always led cheers at the end of his address.

What I find offensive is the parents who only applaud their own child.

awkwardasfuck · 08/08/2025 08:45

CarpetKnees · 08/08/2025 00:30

YANBU at all, but it is the way of the world in so many places.

Some people even whoop in the theatre.

Some people struggle with knowing how to behave in different environments.

Whooping? In THE THEATRE???? HEAVENS.

LegoTherapy · 08/08/2025 08:51

How uncouth.

PomegranateVase · 08/08/2025 09:38

I agree op.

This happened at my graduation ceremonies and at those I’ve attended for others and it really annoyed me, especially when the whooping, cheering and whistling carried on for a considerable amount of time for some people and the next name would have to be announced and it was often inaudible as a result - or as a result of the next round of whooping.

It isn’t a sporting event!