Graduation 2007 went off without a hitch. Most years, graduation seems to take place on the hottest day of the year. This year, we had a perfect 75 degree day with a nice breeze, keeping everyone cool and comfortable through both ceremonies.
The day begins with breakfast at the Law School, where families and graduates can meet up with each other and get some sustenance before all the big events. The graduates and faculty then head over to the official University Convocation, where the graduates of the Law School walk across the stage and receive their diplomas and a handshake from Dean Levmore. We are joined in this ceremony by the graduates of the Public Policy School and School of Social Service Administration. After that, it's off to the Hooding Ceremony.
Established in 1999, the Hooding Ceremony is an opportunity for us to do something a little more intimate than Convocation. It takes place in the beautiful Rockefeller Chapel, a non-denominational stone chapel built in the 1920s. Dean Levmore welcomed the students and guests, then introduced the speakers, Professor Richard Epstein (read his speech here) and Distinguished Citizen Award recipient David Rubenstein '73. Each graduate then received his or her academic hood from two of four faculty members (Douglas Baird, Emily Buss, Lior Strahilevitz, and David Strauss) who were chosen to be the hooders by the graduating class. Several of our JD graduates were hooded by their family members who have previously received degrees from the University of Chicago. As you might imagine, all of this lovely pomp and circumstance was followed by an extended period of family hugging and picture-taking on the lawn, and then everyone tromped back over to the Law School for a celebratory reception.
Some photos of the day are below.
