Matriculation Ceremony

 10-27-2013

 

Today marks the matriculation of freshman into Cuttington University. Matriculation means to enter, register, or enroll and who better to matriculate than entering students, dressed in white, and who better to be there than seniors, dressed in black cap and gown.  The ceremony, prayers, and speeches are what you would expect from university administrators. However, one part is especially moving and that is the passing of the flame to the candles of freshman symbolizing the removal of darkness from their eyes.

The students pledge to be drug-free, seek dialog with the administration rather than resorting to violence, refrain from bringing firearms to campus, do everything to make the campus safe, wholesome, and clean, and honor, respect and obey those in authority. The response is “I will, God being my helper”.

Other issues in which students are asked to refrain are paying for or providing sex for grades, reasonable requests I thought. But on second thought, they are admissions that such activities happen.

Messages of you simply need the will and desire to succeed and it happens, as the President of the University relates his own history of how he alone got to where he is now. Students need to forego instant gratification, fancy clothes, frequent sex, and alcohol. Of course, the American Dream of hard work being rewarded is also referred as an example.

Afterwards there is the hugging and pictures being taken of each other, followed by a special cafeteria meal of fried chicken, oily rice, cabbage salad and dressing, and a piece of cake. Can’t ask for more than that.

Entry processional

Next come seniors

Followed by freshman

Passing of "Light to Remove Darkness from your Eyes"

Students scramble to get chairs.
Someone forgot to count number students and number of required chairs
It took four truck loads of extra chairs