I was away during the Memorial Day weekend to attend my son’s graduation (the 240th Commencement of Brown University). I thought I would do a post about the school and the incredible 2 day event to have as my own souvenir; you are welcome to share my happiness.

Brown’s climate of openness and cooperation can be traced back to its founding over two centuries ago.

 As the third oldest college in New England and the seventh oldest in America, Brown was the Baptist answer to Congregationalist Yale and Harvard; Presbyterian Princeton; and Episcopalian Penn and Columbia. At the time, it was the only one that welcomed students of all religious persuasions (following the example of Roger Williams, who founded Rhode Island in 1636 on the same principle). Brown has long since shed its Baptist affiliation, but it remains dedicated to diversity and intellectual freedom.

The history of Brown tells of a university undergoing constant change. Founded in 1764 as the College of Rhode Island in Warren, Rhode Island, the school registered its first students in 1765. It moved in 1770 to its present location on College Hill, overlooking the capital city of Providence. In 1804, in recognition of a gift from Nicholas Brown, the College of Rhode Island was renamed Brown University. The first women were admitted in 1891 with the establishment of the Women’s College in Brown University. This marked the beginning of eighty years of a coordinate structure for educating women within the University. Later known as Pembroke College, the women’s college was merged with Brown in 1971.

Graduate study at Brown University began in 1850, when provision was made for the awarding of the master’s degree upon successful completion of one year of academic work beyond the bachelor’s degree. This system was discontinued in 1857. The more modern tradition of graduate study at Brown began in 1887, when the faculty and Fellows agreed to publish in the following year’s catalog rules for the awarding of both the master’s and the Ph.D. in regular programs of advanced work. The first master’s degrees under the new plan were granted in 1888 and the first Ph.D.s in 1889.

Brown first organized a medical program in 1811. The school was suspended by President Wayland in 1827. In 1975, the first M.D. degrees of the modern era were awarded to a graduating class of 58 students

In 1984–85, the Brown Corporation approved an eight-year medical continuum called the Program in Liberal Medical Education (PLME). The majority of openings for the first-year medical class are reserved for students who receive their undergraduate degrees through the PLME. Today Brown awards approximately 80 M.D. degrees each year.

Brown’s distinctive undergraduate curriculum dates to 1969–70. Conceived by undergraduate students participating in a Group Independent Study Program and ratified by the faculty after much University-wide discussion, the curriculum harks back to a philosophy shaped by Brown President Francis Wayland in the mid-19th century. In 1850, he wrote: “The various courses should be so arranged that, insofar as practicable, every student might study what he chose, all that he chose, and nothing but what he chose.”

~from the Brown University website

More info:

Brown was the first college in the nation to accept students regardless of religious affiliations.^[2] The school also has the oldest undergraduate engineering program in the Ivy League (1847).

The Brown “New Curriculum,” instituted in 1969, eliminates distribution requirements and mandatory A/B/C grades (allowing any course to be taken on a “satisfactory/no credit” basis). Moreover, there are no pluses (+), minuses (-), or grades of D in the grading system.

Since 2001, Brown’s current and 18th president has been Ruth J. Simmons, the first African American president and second female president of an Ivy League institution, as well as the first permanent female president of Brown.

More history can be found here: http://www.ivysport.com/category-category_id/330

The seniors stay on campus an extra week after everyone else leaves. They decompress and prepare for graduation and commencement. I had no idea what I was in for; how long, how detailed, how well orchestrated.

Friday night: Dance on the green.  Although my husband and I didn’t go, our son did. There were thousands of alumni and families partying under the stars into the morning.
Saturday: Events all over campus. Honorary speakers and lecturers. Exhibits. We managed to get into the tent to catch a view of Robert Redford give a talk. The following day, he was one of several people who received an honorary Ph. D.

Robert Redford gives an infomal address about his life

taken with my new telephoto from almost the back of an enormous tent

Saturday afternoon we sat on the green; there were several huge screens to watch a broadcast.  There were approximately 12,000 folding chairs all over the lawn! The graduates (1,500+) formed a processional and walked in cap and gown to the First Baptist Church to attend a service.  “The Meeting House of he First Baptist Church in America, completed in 1775, was built “for the Publick Worship of Almighty God, and for holding Commencement in.” Central parts of Brown Commencement ceremonies have been held here ever since…”the Baccalaureate service draws together the medieval European custom of presenting the candidates for the degree of bachelor (bacca) with the laurels (lauri) of sermonic oration and the breadth of the faith traditions reflected in the current Brown community…”
Every denomination was represented in prayer. In addition to professional level student performances in the arts, the Baccalaureate speaker, Dave Eggers addressed the students. he is the author of five books: A Heartbreaking Work of Staggering Genius, is a memoir and Pulitzer finalist. His latest book, What is What, was a finalist for the national Book Critics Circle Award. In 1998, Eggers founded McSweeney’s, an independent publishing house. He’s been running writing labs all over the country for young people.

Sunday: Thousands of alumni, even from 60 years ago, line up in order of graduation and form a procession down the streets to the First Baptist Church.

Entering freshmen students symbolically file into the campus through the Van Wickle Gates, turned inward. When graduating, the gates are opened outward, and the graduates exit. They make their way to the church, several blocks away, walking through the streets lined with alumni, who applaud them. In turn, the line snakes through itself and the graduates applaud the alumni. This took several hours.

The Van Wickle Gates

Serene scene now: the gates will soon open and thousands of people will pour out

The students are addressed by President Ruth Simmons who confers the degrees. the students move their tassles from right to left. They march back to the main green and are seated.
The Candidates for Honorary degrees were:
Edwige Danticat, Doctor of Letters (writing) Matthew J. Mallow, Doctor of Human Letters (law) Judith Jamison, Doctor of Fine Arts (American Ballet Theater, Alvin Ailey Dance Theater) Charles Robert Redford, Doctor of Fine Arts (distinguished film career, founder of the Sundance Institute) Shih Choon Fong, Doctor of Science (math, engineering) Maria T. Zuber, Doctor of Science (Professor of Geophysics at M.I.T.) Wendy J. Strothman, Doctor of Humane Letters

After the ceremony, the graduates and guests made their way to tents all over the campus to have lunch and receive their degrees.
Famous Brown graduates:

John F. Kennedy, Jr.
Chloe Malle, daughter of Candice Bergin and Louis Malle
child of Rhea Pearlman and Danny DeVito
Laura Linney, actress
S.J. Perelman
Lisa Loeb
…to name a few
My son was able to take a series of videos with his digital camera; you can get a taste of the joy by watching a few clips.

**

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editdeletereply lauritasita wrote on Jun 6, ’08, edited on Jun 6, ’08 Great Videos ! You had so much so celebrate ! Congratulations to Evan again !!!

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reply sanssouciblogs wrote on Jun 6, ’08 Check out the honorary degrees and who was there!

editdeletereply lauritasita wrote on Jun 6, ’08, edited on Jun 6, ’08 That’s cool how you got all those clips together on one You Tube video !

reply greenwytch wrote on Jun 6, ’08 undefined

editdeletereply lauritasita wrote on Jun 6, ’08, edited on Jun 6, ’08 Just wanted to let you know – there’s a problem getting comments on this post. They keep coming out as “undefined” and then I go in and change them ! Tell Multiply !

reply sanssouciblogs wrote on Jun 6, ’08 It’s on imeem–youtube wasn’t uploading, probably too much traffic.

reply sanssouciblogs wrote on Jun 6, ’08 Yes people have been saying that–going to report it now! The page is open to everyone. Ok, reported it! Thanks! Mercury in retrograde, still going strong!

reply sanssouciblogs wrote on Jun 6, ’08 lonewolfwithin lonewolfwithin wrote today at 8:45 PM hi! i tried to leave a comment at your spot referencing your son’s graduation, but no matter what i typed, the only thing that would appear after selecting “submit” is the word “undefined”… hmmm… no wonder… with the day that i’ve been having, its no surprise! ~smile~ anyway, what i wanted to post was this: “thank you for sharing this, especially the video… it brings to mind remembrance of long ago wishes and dreams… thanks for the memories… and reflection…” be well and stay blessed! ^..^

reply stillybee wrote on Jun 6, ’08 undefined

reply stillybee wrote on Jun 6, ’08 undefined

reply aladybug wrote on Jun 7, ’08, edited on Jun 7, ’08 undefined… what?   I posted a comment and it disappeared! OK… I recovered it: “Aha…  The proud mother… the proud graduate… and the proud father!  I see everybody there, graduating, but WHERE ART THOU?   Ha!    Thanks for sharing.  Hmmm… togas are more practical there.  Over here, they are long (as long as pants). PS  I tried to post a comment earlier, but lost my connection suddenly (sudden blackout).  More Mercury Retrograde effects… :)”

reply debjt1957 wrote on Jun 7, ’08 undefined

reply debjt1957 wrote on Jun 7, ’08 Thank you for sharing your family special time, and a special congrats to your son, my daughter graduated last year and she was so proud of herself as we were of her, I know how you all must be feeling, great blog to remember by

reply dianeoart wrote on Jun 7, ’08 Very nice video… Thank you so much for sharing those moments with us. 🙂

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reply philsgal7759 wrote on Jun 7, ’08, edited on Jun 7, ’08 CONGRATULATIONS You have every reason to be proud

reply papahere wrote on Jun 8, ’08 undefined

reply papahere wrote on Jun 8, ’08 Congratulations Mama Sue…excellent background info on the University and the graduation exercises…I would be interested in knowing about your son’s major and plans for the future. ~ Papa

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Comment deleted at the request of the author.

Comment deleted at the request of the author.

reply vickiecollins wrote on Jun 16, ’08 wow, and you were in the same tent with Robert Redford?  And wonderful to have a son graduate I know…sounds like a kewl school.

reply sanssouciblogs wrote on Jun 16, ’08 vickiecollins said wow, and you were in the same tent with Robert Redford?  And wonderful to have a son graduate I know…sounds like a kewl school. Vickie it is truly kewl, the coolest of the Ivy League.

reply sandpearl wrote on Jun 17, ’08 That is wonderful. I love these moments, so meaningful. A days to celebrate a well deserved degree, to say Yes! to life, to yourself for all the efforts put forth, all sacrifices, and finally the result, the reason for all of them, the great rewards! Congratulations to your son, and to the proud parents. Thank you for sharing these moments with us. (and to say the least, seeing Robert Redford from a little closer is certainly the cherry on top of the Sunday!).

reply velvet3000 wrote on Jun 22, ’08 Congratulations again! I liked reading your academic history here too – thank you 🙂

reply opossumd wrote on Jun 30, ’08 What did Evan graduate in? I always forgot to ask you.