Monday, June 15, 1998
Graduation takes new spin
ALTERNATIVE: Ceremonies focusing on ethnic, racial traditions
gain popularity
By Ann Hawkey
Daily Bruin Contributor
For some graduates, sharing their special day with thousands of
other students just doesn’t have that personal touch.
Alternative ceremonies provide graduates with the opportunity to
remember their years spent at UCLA in a smaller, more personal
environment than the departmental ceremonies, organizers and
participants say.
"It’s a more personal level of graduation," said Elissa Fleak, a
graduating senior who will take part in the American Indian
graduation. "Each person is recognized individually who is
graduating in our community."
Alternative commencements celebrate the achievements of
graduates, and also recognize the contributions they have made to
the cultural and social groups that have affected them through
their lives.
Groups such as the African Student Union (ASU), the American
Indian Student Association (AISA) and the Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual,
Transgender (LGBT) Campus Resource Center are sponsoring
graduations this year.
Many other ethnic and social groups are also sponsoring
alternative ceremonies to recognize their graduates
individually.
"It’s a celebration of my culture, and also my involvement over
the past five years here," said Anika Johnson, a graduating senior
who is participating in ASU’s graduation.
"It’s closer to my heart. It’s not just about a career; it’s a
celebration of family, of culture," she continued.
One way alternative ceremonies will celebrate the achievements
of the graduates will be through awards and honors given out at the
ceremonies.
"We have the graduation in order to highlight the achievements
and contributions of students to the American Indian community,"
said Natalie Stites, president of AISA.
At the Lavender Graduation for LGBT students, leadership awards
will recognize service to the UCLA community, as well as academic
excellence.
Organizers of the alternative graduations tried to personalize
the ceremonies by inviting speakers who could directly relate to
the graduates from their own experiences.
AISA will have George Ramos, a Tlingit/Eyak and elder of his
clan in Alaska, speaking at their ceremony. The Lavender Graduation
will feature two speakers, both former UCLA students. The speakers
will be Sheila Kuehl, speaker pro tempore of the state assembly,
and Kerry Lovel, executive director of the National Gay and Lesbian
Task Force.
"We wanted to have a state and national leader who was a former
UCLA community member to speak and be a part of our graduation,"
said Ronni Sanlo, director of the LGBT Campus Resource Center and
founder of Lavender Graduation.
Though well-known speakers can inspire graduates, individual
reflections can also personalize the graduation experience. The
Asian/Pacific Islander graduation will give each of
its 200 graduates a chance to relate their experiences at
UCLA.
"They have 15 seconds to speak and really express their
feelings," said Carol Lee, chair of the Asian/Pacific Islander
graduation. "It’s a chance to relive what they’ve gone through in
the years they were at UCLA."
Lavender Graduation was also created with hopes of making
commencement more special for graduates. Each participant will
receive a rainbow-colored tassel, and a reception will be held
after the ceremony.
"I wanted (the graduates) to finally have their last memories of
the institution be happy and loving ones," Sanlo said .
Groups this year have continued to sponsor alternative
ceremonies, despite rising costs and scheduling problems.
Even in the face of these problems, support among graduates has
not wavered. MEChA is seeing one of its largest graduations yet
this year, with over 300 participants.
Among the celebrations and congratulations of the commencement
ceremonies, participants remember not only their own achievements,
but also the communities that helped them along the way.
"I’m participating in support of my community that helped me
overcome a lot of the adversity that I faced at this university,"
said Hugo Maldonado, chair of MEChA, who will be taking part in
Raza Graduation.
"It’s an opportunity as a community to celebrate the culmination
of all our efforts."