Whooping at a graduation

[Welliesandtweed]

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.

Interesting. I'd assume that anyone behaving like that was just taking the piss out of the whole thing and I wouldn't be impressed.
I mean I get the sentiment, I found my graduation very boring and I was only there because my parents wanted to go. But having agreed to do so I felt I should at least pretend that I was taking it seriously and be respectful to academic tradition and the institution. If you don't want to do that, just don't go, which is what I did second time around.
If the feeling even amongst academics is that traditional graduation ceremonies are boring and need "anything to liven them up" maybe it's actually time for a complete rethink and to come up with more modern and relevant events?

I loathe whooping, it’s totally unnecessary. Ear-splitting, prolonged whistling is even worse. I was sat next to a man at the theatre who just wouldn’t stop - it was so inconsiderate, and children around had their hands over their ears. He was totally oblivious. As long as he was enjoying himself, sod everyone else I guess.

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Some of us are the people delivering your music and script and many of us prefer the audience to respond positively.

Calling them drunken is just catty and unnecessary

The audience is part of it, without them we have no job, and the ones cheering loudly are much appreciated.

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.

😂

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.

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

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

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.

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

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)

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.

Oh give over!

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 .

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

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.

Uni of Manchester

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

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

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

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.

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

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"