Special Graduation Edition
Informing, entertaining and inspiring tlie Elon University community since 1974
Volume: XXIX ISSUE;
DATE: 5/ 24/ 02 www.eloii.edu / pendulum
Congratulations Class of2002
Photo Courtesy of University Relations
The Class of2002, the first class to graduate from Elon University, is the institution’s the largest class
with more than 890 students.
Troxler: behind the scenes man
Crystal Allen
Managing Editor
Most seniors come to com
mencement not knowing what to
expect.
When soon-to-be graduates line
up for the processional across cam
pus, they are directed by George
Troxler, faculty marshal.
“Stay in line, stop at the ‘X’
when your name is called, shake
with your right hand, receive di
ploma with your left,” Troxler said.
Little do most people know,
Troxler has been planning for that
day for more than four months.
He knows every detail of gradua
tion, from how many chairs are in the
audience to what kind of bottled wa
ter is found under the seats. Elon’s
graduation contingency plan was re
cently highlighted in the Wall Street
Joumal, describing how detailed and
precise the graduation plan is.
Graduation planning begins in
September with the selection of the
commencement speaker, and full
time planning begins in January.
Tro.xler has been the senior fac
ulty marshal for more than 10 years.
The first year Troxler was faculty
marshal was also the first time
graduation was held Under the
Oaks. “We decided to move it out
side because we thought it would
be more attractive,” he said. “It
wasn’t really a space issue at the
time.”
The class of 2003 is the largest
graduating class to date, which
causes logistical problems with the
outdoor ceremony. Troxler said
there are about 10,000 chairs placed
Under the Oaks, and setting up the
chairs begins two days prior to
graduation.
See TROXLER
page 4
Sulhvan ready to speak
after 22 years of waiting
Katie Beaver
Copy Editor
Tim Rosner / Photography Editor
George Troxler is the senior faculty marshal for graduation. Plan
ning for commencement begins in September.
It’s a moment John Sullivan has
envisioned many times: standing at
the podium in full academic rega
lia, staring out into a maroon sea of
eager graduates waiting to take their
place in the world. He had it all
planned, down to the very tone of
voice he would use as he addressed
these young people he had seen
grow throughout the past four years.
But it wasn’t to be.
Until now.
Sullivan, Maude Sharpe Powell
professor of philosophy, has been
Elon’s backup commencement
speaker since 1980, patiently wait
ing in the wings while others had
their moment in the sun. This year,
at Elon’s 112th commencement ex
ercises May 25, Sullivan will finally
give the speech he’s rewritten or
revised every year for more than 20
years.
He will speak in the place of
Mae Jemison, the first black female
NASA astronaut. She withdrew
from commencement because of an
illness in her family.
Sullivan’s milestone has gained
national recognition; media outlets
including the Wall Street Journal,
the “Today” show, the Greensboro
News & Record and the Burlington
Times-News have featured Sullivan
in the past month.
“I’m honored,” Sullivan says.
“But this is not about me. It’s about
graduation—these students who
have completed their career here
and are going on to new things. We
are just their cheerleaders.”
Students have been first priority
for Sullivan since he arrived at Elon
in 1970. His teaching style and con
cern for his students quickly earned
him a reputation as a respected pro
fessor and scholar.
When former President Fred
Young asked him to be a backup
Tim Rosner / Photography Editor
Philosophy professor John
Sullivan will deliver Saturday’s
commencement address.
speaker in 1980, Sullivan was
pleased to oblige.
“Dr. Young was concerned that
they have all possibilities covered,”
Sullivan says. “I was their insurance
policy.”
Since then, Sullivan has given
hundreds of speeches on Elon’s
campus and off, including an ad
dress immediately following Sept.
11, but he was never called upon to
fill in for a commencement speaker.
As time went on, he noticed a sig
nificant change in both the audience
and the speakers.
“Times were changing, students
were changing,” Sullivan says.
“When I started, Elon had mostly
first-generation students, but stu
dents are wealthier now. You have
to appeal to a different kind of au
dience.”
Speakers used to cover serious,
complex topics, delving deep into
philosophical and political issues.
Now, Sullivan says, speeches are
shorter and more celebratory.
See SULLIVAN
page 4