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THE UNIVERSITY DAILY KANSAN
GRADUATION GUIDE
HURSDAY, MAY 8, 2008
editor's note
I never thought I'd find myself saying that I would miss school. However, as graduation day approaches, all seniors, including myself, will prepare to exit the University and enter the real world and (hopefully) have jobs lined up.
The traditions and superstitions of the Campanile
I remember when I first moved into Ellsworth Hall four years ago and didn't really know what to expect. Before I knew it, I had been admitted into the William Allen White School of Journalism, joined The Kansan and watched the Jayhawks win the Orange Bowl and the NCAA title. Now I ask myself "Where did it all go?" and cringe when my Dad talks about alumni.
I will miss walking through one of the most beautiful campuses in the nation, eating lunch in The Underground working for The University Daily Kansan and sitting in the student section at football and basketball games.
However, what I will miss most are the people. Since arriving at the University in 2004, I have met a ton of terrific people. The faculty I was fortunate enough to learn from during my four years here have guided me in the right direction to have a successful future.
And of course, my friends. I have met some of the best friends I could ever ask for, and I will miss them, although I am sure we will remain friends in the future.
To all seniors, congratulations on graduating. I hope all of you reflect on your time at KU as a great time in your life. I know I will. Best of luck, and Chalk Chalk jayhawk!
PHOTO COURTESY OF UNIVERSITY RELATIONS
jbaker@kansan.com
BY JASON BAKER
jbaker@kerson.com
On May 18, seniors will filter through the Campanile and walk down the hill to Memorial Stadium for commencement. Walking through the Campanile is a tradition for graduates.
The Campanile, the big bell tower that sits pretty on top of the hill of Marvin's Grove, overlooks all of the KU campus and the town of Lawrence. But come May 18, this World War II memorial site that was built in 1951 will be an essential part of the traditional commencement ceremony for KU graduates. There are a few traditions and superstitions about graduating that involve the Campanile.
THE TRADITIONS OF COMMENCEMENT
SETTING UP FOR THE BIG DAY:
The commencement ceremony is always held on the Sunday after finals week at Memorial Stadium, and from 8 a.m. until 8 p.m., traffic on Memorial Drive is prohibited. The ban starts at midnight the Saturday before.
The ceremony is held at 2:30 p.m., and 30 minutes before the start, KU graduates assemble and line up along Memorial Drive. The graduates walk toward the ceremony in pairs of two and walk through both the campanile doors down the path
WALKING THROUGH THE CAMPANILE:
that leads to Memorial Stadium for the beginning of Commencement. While they walk down the hill, it is traditional for the graduates' family and friends to stand on the hill to take pictures or film them while they are walking down.
BELLS CHIMING:
It is a tradition on graduation day that the bells on top of the Campanile tower play all afternoon as the students walk through the Campanile.
SUPERSTITIONS OF THE CAMPANILE
WALKING THROUGH
THE CAMPANILE EARLY:
One common superstition that many KU students are familiar with about the Campanile is walking through it before you graduate. The legend is that it's bad luck if a student walks through both Campanile doors before they are supposed to graduate, because if they do, then they will not graduate on time. Legend also states that if you happen to go inside the Campanile, you should go out the same door as you entered in to.
KISSING UNDER
THE CAMPANILE:
This is another common superstition
about that Campanile. Legend has it that if you kiss your significant other under the Campanile, then that will be the person you marry. However, there are two alternatives: one is you kiss them anytime during the day; the other is kissing them while the bells are ringing. Whichever way it goes, essentially kissing your boyfriend or girlfriend under the Campanile will lead you to get hitched. So before you continue on the tradition, here are some do's and don'ts of walking down the hill.
DO:
- Get there on time: That way you
* won't be the last person to walk
- Pair up with someone who you like: That makes it more fun to walk down the hill.
DON'T:
- Wear comfy shoes: You'll have to walk a lot to get to the ceremony, and you want to be focused on the ceremony and not on the blisters on your feet.
- Take forever to walk down:
Remember, there are several thousand other students that are walking along with you.
- Walk before you graduate: Yeah, it's a superstition, but it also takes the fun out of it.
- Be overdressed: It's hot, especially with the polyester robes. Stick with cotton, not synthetic fabrics, for your other clothes.
BY ALISON CUMBOW
cumbow@kansan.com
ANDY MAKQUEZ
Biology
you during your time at KU? I know a lot of people who have waited their whole college career to walk under it, but I never had that feeling.
How does it feel to finally walk under the Campanile?
It's not really a big deal to me, it's more of a symbolic thing.
What significance has it had for
Have you walked under it before?
I walked under it my freshman year. I was with a girl at the time,
and we were talking about the superstition thing and about walking under it prematurely. It was kind of eerie because it was in the middle of the night and the tower was making noise because of the wind. I decided to go for it, and everything has worked out for me so far. The girl I was
with didn't walk under it, and she is also graduating.
How do you think you will feel while walking down the hill? I will feel combination of happy and sad. I will miss the friends that I have made here and the KU spirit, but I will also be happy to move on in my life and I look forward to the challenges ahead of me.
What are you doing after graduation?
I am taking a year off from school, and then I am applying to medical school—hopefully KU Med.
JACKIE GRUSKIN
Rosa Paton, Fla.
Psychology
Psychology How does it feel to finally walk under the Campanile? It's exciting to finally walk through the Campanile. What significance has it had for you during your time at KU? I have heard so many past graduates talk about how exciting it was to walk down with all of your friends and I am really looking forward to that.
Have you walked under it before?
I have always heard the superstition that if you walk through the
Campanile before graduation you would not make it, and I actually know someone who that happened to, so I always stuck to the superstition and kept my distance.
Do you think other people see it as a big deal?
I definitely think for some people they have waited their four years to walk through it and to others it makes no difference. I know many of my friends are all looking forward to finally go through it together.
REMEMBER THIS MOMENT FOREVER.
ROCK CHALK
CHAMPIONS
JAYHAWKS WIN NATIONAL TITLE
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