Academic Traditions and Attire
by Kathleen Barron
Did you ever wonder the meanint;
behind the regalia used at ceremonial
occasions? What was the significance
of the “thing* the chief marshaU car
ried in processions and what was the
significance of all the different colors?
Interestingly enough, the answers to
these questions were printed in the com
mencement program for December. I am
including this information for those of
you who are as curious as I was.
THE UNIVERSITY MACE is a symbol
of authority and was originally mod
eled after war clubs carried into battle
by 12th century officers. It first ap
peared at FSU in 1986 and was rede
signed and used for Commencement for
the first time in 1989.
The university’s mace is 40" long
with a cylinder-shaped head cast in
hollow brass and bears the name of the
university, the year the university was
founded and Rea Non Verba, the uni
versity motto: 'Deeds, not words’. The
University seal, which was commis
sioned in April 1989 for Chancellor
Haddey’s inauguration, adorns the head
of the mace. The spirit of victory is
depicted by the laurels embracing the
setd and the Alumni Memorial Gates
are immortalized by the spiral rings
mounted on the top and sides of the
cylinder. The polished brass cylinder
is supported by a 13" walnut staff tipped
with a SH” ball of soUd brass.
When not in use, the mace is dis
played in a base of solid walnut
THE CHANCELLOR’S MEDALLION is
a replica of FSU’s newly designed seal
made of gold cast in bronze and three-
inches in diameter. It bears Chancel
lor Hackley’s name and the date of his
installation. It is to worn by the Chan
cellor at all ceremonial occasions as part
of his official academic dress. The found
ing year of 1867 is prominently dis
played above the historic Alumni Me
morial Gates which were erected in
1925. Nestled between the gates are a
drawing of the original Howard School;
an open book depicting the early mis
sion of the University as a teacher pre
paratory institution, with clasped hands
inside Ae book symbolizing unity; and
a banner with the University Motto.
Pine cones typifying North Carolina and
laurels marl^g the spirit of victory
enclose the bottom of the gates. The
outer edges of the seal are adorned by
two lamps of learning which represent
the University’s mission to impact learn
ing to all who enter.
The style of ACADEMIC ATTIRE can
be seen in movies featuring students at
medieval English universities. At that
period, everyone wore robes or gowns
to warf off the cold. The custom of
specifically designed caps, hoods, and
gowns was developed to distinguish lay
persons from doctors, licentiates, mas
ters and bachelors.
The square cap design is the same
for all degrees. Soft square-topped caps
are permitted but, in general, mortar
boards are recommended. The field of
study is designated on the tassel. A
black tassel is correct for all degrees
but Doctorates are indicated by gold.
The gowns are designed to desig
nate the specific degree. To indicate a
Bachelor’s degree, the gown has pointed
sleeves and is to be worn closed. The
Master’s gown may be worn open or
closed and the oblong sleeves hang down
in the traditional manner. “The red part
of its oblong shape is square cut and
the fi:t)nt point has an arc cutaway."
The gown worn by those with a Doctor
ate degree has black velvet down the
firont and three bars of black velvet
across the bell-shaped sleeves. The color
of velvet used for the facing and cross
bars may designate the subject to which
the degree pertains.
The hoods for the degrees are also
distinctive. The hoods are lined with
the official colors of the discipline and
the colors of the university conferring
the degree, in our case blue and white.
The hoods differ in length also. The
Bachelor’s is three feet long, the
Master’s is three and a half feet long,
and the Doctor’s degree is indicated by
four foot long panels at the sides.
Hood colors indicating fields of
study;
Art, Letters, Humanities
White
Kenny E. Hooks chose Criminal Justice
as his major because of his life experi
ences living on the streets in Washing
ton D.C. When asked what his plans
were after graduation, he stated, “I
would like to become a juvenile counse
lor or a probation officer. I would like
to have any job dealing with kids. My
reason for attending F.S.U., to better
myself in several ways; money, status,
and knowledge wise. The most impor
tant reason for attending college is to
show myself and other black brothers
that there are other ways to obtain suc
cess.*
Paula George is a Sociology major.
Paula’s "plans for the future are to con
tinue my education and prusue a
master’s degree in Social Work,
hoopefully through Eastern Carolina
University.’
She continues, 'Overall, my experience
at F.S.U. has been a pleasant but many
times stressful one. I’ve grown very
much as a person while I’ve been at
school here.’
fi:x)m Sodal Facts, the Sociology Club
newsletter
This month, approximately 250 FSU
students walk across the stage at
Seabrook auditorium as their names are
called for them to be rewarded for all
their hard work in earning a degree.
Friends, relatives, and classmates will
be there to congratulate them and share
in their happiness at meeting their goals.
The following are comments made by
some of the graduates:
Leo Brown, Sr. is a Sociology major.
He re-entered academic studies after
retiring with thirty years in the mili
tary. Prominent among those to whom
he wishes to express appreciation is “my
faithful counsellor. Dr. Keller. I thank
Business, Administration,
Commerce
Drab
Economics
Copper
Education
Light Blue
Fine Artq^'Architecture
Brown
Journalism
Crimson
Law
Purple
Library Science
Lemon
Medicine
Green
Music
Pink
Nursing
Apricot
the other faculty made to the educating
of this person may have been fruitless.
I have been helped and in some form
motivated by everyone I came into con
tact with here on [the] FSU campus.
So please do not stop doing what you
do best - helping / supporting us as
students so we can do our best. I thank
all of you. Lastly, I challenge each and
every student at FSU. If you are try
ing to get an education and you are
sincere about it, get yourself a mentor
and a counselor and use yoia* counse
lors religiously. They are a Godsend. I
know, it worked for me.*
Ms. Vicki Sellars, also a
Sociology Major, spoke of
experience.
“When I first arrived at
FSU, I had low self-esteem,
very little confidence in my
capabilities, and no idea
what I wanted out of life.
My first semester was con
fusing, and stressful, but
very enriching. Mrs. Lessie
Artis, my first advisor, en
veloped me within her
‘change agent role’ as a so
cial worker and helped me
to look at myself and ini
tiate chttnge. Her counsel
ing skills helped me to go
within myself and acknowl
edge the strong, intelligent,
African-American female
that I am. It has been an
upward struggle, but with
the help of God, my mother, fof Ms diploma.
my son. Dr. Keller, Mrs.
Chavis, Dr. Ross, and others my six
semesters at FSU has culminated into
one of my most successful accomplish
ments. This is not my last appearance
Oratory(Speech)
Silver Gray
Philosophy
Dark Blue
Physical Education
Sage Green
Public Administration,
Foreign Service
Peacock Blue
Public Health
Salmon Pink
Science
Golden Yellow
Social Science
Cream
Social Work
Citron
Theology
Scarlet
I hope this article has enlight
ened you about some of the traditions
behind the pomp and circumstance in
Academia.
Ms. Maeronda Banks credits her mother
and grandmother as being her greatest
inspirations and always being there
when on one else was. Her belief in
the supreme being ‘God’ was first and
foremost in helping her to obtain
strength. This belief was tested during
her years at FSU.
“My years at FSU have been quite
beneficial to me as a student and as a
person. As a student, I realized here
more than ever before that if I desired
to achieve on the highest level possible
for me, I had to first believe I could do
it.*
Leo Brown Sr. (Center) stands in "readyposition," waiting
December Grads Speak
her for her attention, guidance, and lead- ft FSU. I plan to start graduate classes
ership without which the contribution “ the fall.*