<p>At University of Illinois at Champaign-Urbana, it is taking pictures in front of the Alma Mater statue (which has just returned after an almost two year restoration project.)</p>
<p>Link below to a live webcam feed of grads in their robes getting pictures ahead of commencement this weekend.
<a href="http://illinois.edu/about/tours/almacam.html">http://illinois.edu/about/tours/almacam.html</a></p>
<p>--
The sculpture, unveiled by UI artist Lorado Taft in 1929, was removed Aug. 7, 2012, and sent to the Conservation of Sculpture and Objects Studio in Forest Park, IL for restoration following years of water corrosion damage. Conservator Andrzej Dajnowski and his crew replaced more than 1,000 rusted and deteriorating bolts, laser-cleaned the surface and restored the sculpture to a bronze finish.</p>
<p>The reconstruction project cost about $360,000 and was paid for with alumni donations.</p>
<p>At Miami University (Ohio), a graduation tradition is “stepping” on the university seal embedded in the hub of central quad. From the time of their first campus tour, student are told of the campus legend that if you step on the university seal you will fail your next exam! As a result, many students on graduation weekend have their picture taken stepping on the seal. </p>
<p><a href=“http://www.miamioh.edu/features/main-slide/commencement/index.html”>http://www.miamioh.edu/features/main-slide/commencement/index.html</a></p>
<p>S2’s college has a cupola in the middle of the grassy quad. The cupola is a replica of the one that was atop one of of the original classroom buildings on campus. Most students (including S2) have their picture taken in the cupola after graduation. There is also a larger than life Pirate (school mascot) statue painted in the school colors. Everybody gets a pic with the Pirate.</p>
<p>S1’s campus centerpiece is a really tall bell tower. Everyone gets a pic at the bell tower after graduation.</p>
<p>A lovely graduation tradition at William and Mary is the seniors walking through the school’s oldest building (the Christopher Wren Building), then walking with the entire class across campus to the ceremony location. Very moving for parents to see.</p>
<p>A tradition that needs a bit of an update, imho: at UVA, ALL graduates (undergrads, MDs, JDs, etc.) and faculty walk down the Lawn from the Rotunda to their seats. Also moving to see, but on this past Sunday it took one solid HOUR to get all the grads and faculty seated. A tradition that should change right away: people standing on their seats to see the processional and take pictures. At least half of the crowd did this. So wherever we looked - toward the Rotunda or toward the large screens placed around the area - we could see only other people’s backsides. </p>
<p>At my small LAC, the senior class lines up to walk across the campus, and the president of the class hands the —that thing the marshalls carry?—they hand that thing to the Professor of the Year (which the class selects) and s/he walks with the class to the ceremony, then hands the scepter? to the Faculty representative.</p>
<p>At Penn State, students take a photo tour of campus in cap/gown, and if you spot a group of grads taking pictures, we honk. </p>
<p>I believe the “thing” is called a Mace. While mace’s have been used for centuries, many schools have seemed to re-adopt the practice recently. Maybe due to CSPAN televising the openning of the British Parliament? :)</p>
<p>At Spelman College on Class Day (the Friday before commencement, which is always on a Sunday), the alumnae lead the graduating class through the Alumnae Arch. We have this arch on which ivy vines are planted, and it’s in the middle of our quad (the Oval). The legend is that if you walk through the Alumnae Arch before Class Day your senior year, you won’t graduate. It’s something that you look forward to beginning your freshman year - we hold class Induction in the lawn in front of the Arch, facing it.</p>
<p>Anyway, on Class Day - after a non-religious service in our historic chapel just for the seniors, led by the seniors - we line up in order of class year. The alumnae from the earliest class year are in front (my graduating year I think the earliest graduate was from 1943, and there were definitely a lot from 1958, who were celebrating their 50th Reunion), and the graduating seniors are last. There’s also a special outfit we all wear (white dresses, flesh-toned stockings and black shoes - the seniors have it on under their caps and gowns). So it’s really beautiful and moving as all of the alumnae, our Spelman sisters, lead us through the Arch. A lot of us cry and hug as they walk underneath it, it’s sweet and pretty awesome :D</p>
<p>And the best part is that as an alumnae, it’s a Reunion tradition. Reunion weekend is always held the same weekend as Commencement, partly because of this tradition - it ensures that there are always a lot of alumnae around to lead us in the procession. We tend to Reunion every five years - the first time you go to Reunion is typically your 5th Reunion. So as you go through the years you move up in the line!</p>
<p>I also really love that at the end of Commencement, we link hands and sing our school hymn. No dry eyes during that one. (We sing it at all of our important events throughout college, so it gains a special significance for us.)</p>