University of Florida graduates dragged off stage while receiving diplomas
 

https://abcnews.go.com/US/university...ry?id=54979432

I saw that and was stunned! I know “over celebrating” has caused issues at graduation ceremonies the last few years but these graduates didn’t seem to be interrupting the process. Regardless, it was shameful.

At my own graduation ceremony, our friends and relatives were asked not to even clap, so that the ceremony could move faster. I am surprised that strolling has ever been permitted in a school where there are hundreds and hundreds of graduates who all deserve their moment on the stage.

This is true. What if everybody strolled? Do we want to be there for hours?

I have seen it handled this way--the names were called at a rapid clip and if anyone strolled, the next person came ripping right past him--they don't get their real diplomas in a massive graduation anyway. Why do people think that with hundreds upon hundreds of grads, colleges have time for this?

I agree. However, if no rules were laid out and strolling has been permitted in the past, I can't blame these students for being surprised when a random stranger on stage manhandled them during their special moment.

I feel certain the rules were laid out ahead of time. An event of this size doesn't happen without some kind of information being distributed.

The article said there were nearly 10000 students in the Spring 2018 graduating class. One of the people quoted in the article complained that graduates should get to celebrate for 4 seconds if they want to. Assuming only half of the spring graduates participate in commencement, at 4 seconds per graduate, that's 20,000 seconds of celebrating/strolling. That's 5 1/2 hours of names being read! Let alone filing in/out of graduates and other aspects of the program. To think a ceremony should go on this long is laughable.

ETA: Not saying anyone here thinks a ceremony should be this long.

My whole problem with this fiasco is is they said it was only Blacks?

So, my question is, is that TRUE?:eek:

If not, then their antics were uncalled for!:mad: I do not care if is their Greek Step thing or not! It is a somber occasion of moving on in life.

Wrong, Tom.

According to the article, there were students of all races doing things that would delay the ceremony. The African-American students were the only ones who were moved along with such vehemence. There’s a difference between placing your hand on someone’s back to gently move them along, and brusquely shoving someone or picking them up.

It surprises me that several graduation ceremonies weren't held, divided by major area of study and/or degree conferred. As stated above, graduating even half a class all-at-once would lead to a very long procession!

That was the question I was asking if it was Blacks only! You answered that question. If that was the case then, it was WRONG!:mad:

But, it is still a disruption for all of the parents/relatives, wives/or children who attended! I I was a parent or wife, I would be PISSED with this kind of crap. If you do not feel this way, I wonder what is wrong with you?

I guess I see it another way.

Once a person has done the handshake thing, what s/he does the rest of the way across the stage is not what I'd be watching. I'd be watching the next person to do the handshake. As long as the line keeps moving, I don't really care.

People are generally there to watch one person - or at most a handful - and what the others do is irrelevant.

The problem is these “rituals” were holding up the line and not allowing others to process across the stage. It was not just graduates of color. On television they clearly showed white students who also thought they were more special than the other 950 graduates, being “assisted” across the stage. When our son graduated they made a request not to clap or make noise until the end. Of course, there were those who felt their student deserved more notice than the rest. I particularly appreciated the family who brought an entire percussion section ((okay only four pieces) and made such a show that we did not hear our son’s name called. This is a ceremony that is supposed to have some dignity attached to it. I do not think the school owes anyone an apology.

Right there with you ggforever. Have any of us participated in a graduation ceremony in which no guidelines were shared with graduates who decided to participate? Where you just show up the day of ? I have not.

Just this morning on the television news: a school is considering fining any family heard clapping during the graduation ceremony $1000.00+. Not sure what school fund the fines will go toward.

I harbor much hate for the families who blast air horns in closed arenas, even though grads have been given a list of not-permitted behavior and announcements are made before the ceremony.