Commencement rites

Out of the doors of the bookstore, graduating seniors and faculty members bring caps and gowns and hoods…
The academic dean practices pronouncing the names that will appear in the stack of diplomas…
Physical plant prepares the grounds for visitors…
The processional is rehearsed and graduates practice shaking the hand of the president with their right hand while accepting their diploma with their left…
The art gallery director hangs a show of senior work…
Mustering impressions of professors, vocalizing and fine-tuning sketches, students plan their grad-weekend show – a diversion in a transitional season during which they hear the inevitable, “What are you going to do after graduation?”
If these scenarios could apply to any graduation year, or at any other college or university for that matter, how is each Goshen commencement special? The students, of course, and the campus itself, with a new context for each class; maybe U.S. political or military conditions or societal issues brought tumultuous dimensions to community life, particular students emerged as leaders, a president was inaugurated or new buildings became part of the campus experience. Each year brings challenge, questions, wisdom, delight:

• Institute Hall cannot accommodate the crowd at the 1901 commencement exercises – more evidence that the Elkhart Institute must find a new home.
• In 1902, institute president Noah Byers begins his commencement comments with, “When I think of education I get into my mind these two words, culture and service,” and ends with “Let our motto be ‘Culture for Service.’”
• Ten years later, graduates sing a new alma mater.
• Can’t remember who gave the main address at your graduation? Speakers have historically hailed from academia. 1945 – Henry Morehouse Gage, Lindenwood College president (board member of the North Central Association when Goshen was first accredited). 1949 – O.P Kretzmann, Valparaiso University president. 1956 – Wilhelm Pauck, professor of church history at Union Theological Seminary. 1967 – Lloyd J. Averill, vice president of Kalamazoo College. 1983 – Sister Jeanne Knoerle, president of Saint-Mary-of-the-Woods College. 1993 – Hildi Froese Tiessen, Conrad Grebel College English professor. 2001 – John Paul Lederach, founding director of Eastern Mennonite University’s Conflict Transformation Program. However, we’ve also heard from poets, politicians, activists, astronomers, ministers and more.
• At the request of students, caps and gowns became a commencement tradition in 1945; faculty officially donned robes, again at the behest of students, in 1967. In 1972, students and faculty debated whether the traditional graduation garb should be worn at all – some felt it symbolized authority and conformity – and the practice was deregulated.
• Professor of Music James A. Miller led the A Cappella and Collegiate choruses and orchestra in performing Mozart’s “Requiem” during graduation weekend.
• Can’t remember what the speaker talked about? Many topics are timeless. 1942 – John McNichol, Toronto Bible College principal and author: “Abiding Things in a Changing World.” 1950 – D. Elton Trueblood, Earlham College professor of philosophy: “America As It Might Be.” 1973 – Robert S. Kreider, former president of Bluffton College: “Things Hidden from the Wise.” 1988 – Madeleine L’Engle, author: “Being Human in an Inhuman World.”
• Among many memorable senior class gifts are the College Cabin (1940) and WGCS, the campus FM radio station (1956).

No matter the era, the spirit of commencement season is exciting if bittersweet – leaving the campus community, looking forward to jobs or graduate school or service, separating from friends, celebrating with family and loved ones.
We hope the Class of 2001 stays in touch, as you do so, we can share your experiences since leaving Goshen in the Alumni News section of the Bulletin. I would also like to invite you to share something more; if you have a particular experience, hobby, transition, job or societal, theological or other issue you would like to share with Goshen College alumni and friends, please be in touch with me about writing an Alumni Narrative. Write to me at racheljl@goshen.edu or Rachel Lapp, Bulletin editor, Goshen College, 1700 S. Main St., Goshen, IN 46526; call (574) 535-7571.

Return to June Bulletin contents
“Fling yourself…but, darling, don’t drop!” by President Shirley H. Showalter
Senior profiles: Ryan Kolb, Andrea Troyer, Joel Jimenez, Lora Nafziger, Greg Stahly, Melody Bennett, Deana Landis, Alicia Montoya and Rachel Glick
How Julia Kasdorf changed my life by Daniel Shank Cruz
Mennonite by choice by Joni S. Sancken ’98
A lifetime in family business: What I’ve learned by Leonard Geiser ’57 with Rachel Lapp
Allon H. Lefever by Ryan Miller

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