"I'm in favor of having a multitude of plannedevents to choose from. After all, they are alloptional, and without these, it would be much moredifficult to coordinate activities with friends,"Mendenhall says. "These activities encourageseniors to stay in the area and promotecohesiveness of the group."
Hunt agrees, nothing that in the past, manyseniors chose not to return for their graduationceremonies.
As the number and elaborateness of events hasincreased, "more students realize that it is aonce-in-a-lifetime event," he says.
Most agree that when it comes down to theofficial graduation ceremony, pomp, circumstanceand tradition makes the event much moremeaningful.
Marcus has one source for his interest in thehistory of Commencements--one day in a WesternEuropean History class.
"[Goelet Professor of French History] PatriceHigonnet pointed out the window and said, `GeneralGeorge Marshall announced the plan about 100 feetfrom here in June of 1947,'" Marcus says.
"Since then, Commencement has had aninteresting significance in my mind. Last year'sceremony was especially interesting, being the50th anniversary of the Marshall Plan," he says.
Arnold also believes that tradition and theceremony's history are an inseparable part ofCommencement.
"I think people definitely feel an associationof tradition with Commencement--things like thespeeches, they've been doing for years. TheHarvard Commencement Office calls it `America'soldest ceremony,'" he says.
Whether or not the history behind thesetraditions is known or even appreciated, the longstring of events leading up to that final walkacross the Yard, Mendenhall says, is anopportunity to celebrate after four long years ofstudy.
"They represent our entry into a new phase ofour lives," he says. "In the larger scope, manyHarvard activities center on tradition to honoradmirable individuals that have gone throughbefore us."