Strains of “Pomp and Circumstance” will soon be in the air as commencement season approaches. Yet, the tradition of presenting a class of students who are all marking the transition to life beyond the institution’s walls has devolved into a myriad of exclusive celebrations based on identity, not achievement. The unified rite-of-passage is gone. Maybe the rite itself should be, too.

The tradition is 900 years old:

The tradition of degree ceremonies originated in Europe in the 12th century in the medieval universities of Paris and Bologna, and later in the English universities of Oxford and Cambridge in the 13th and 14th centuries.1 These universities were originally composed of apprentices who would learn a set of skills from a guild of masters. At the end of the period of study, the apprentice would receive a testimonial of skill, referred to as a degree, which enabled him to begin to practice and teach his trade as a member of the guild.

Ceremonies were focused on achievement. Did this student pass the requisite courses to qualify to pursue a profession or vocation in [accounting, nursing, teaching]? But somewhere in the 1970s, affinity ceremonies, sponsored by the same educational institutions offering up the main commencement event, started appearing. People more interested in celebrating identity than achievement found champions within universities’ “multicultural” departments.

Twelve colleges on Campus Reform’s newest list offer an LGBTQ graduation, usually hosted by a multicultural center or office for diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI). Ceremonies focused on ethnicity or heritage often rely on broad categories, such as the “Asian, Asian American, Pacific Islander, and Desi-American”–those from the Indian subcontinent–graduation at Harvard.

Affinity by race, by sex, by sexual-identity … because, somehow, one’s family and friends watching you publicly acknowledged for what you did to get a degree isn’t as important than what you are via melanin level or sexual partners.

You know, when I need to have my taxes done, I’m sure more interested in who my accountant sleeps with than if he or she has a solid degree and passed state boards. [facepalm]

And if that doesn’t weary you enough with all Woke Balkanization in universities across the nation, take a gander at what ostensible Catholic institutions are doing.

Some of the country’s most prominent Catholic colleges and universities are holding separate LGBTQ-affirming graduation ceremonies this spring, including one that also plans to include a drag performance.

At least 20 colleges or universities associated with the Catholic Church have held, or plan to hold, these “lavender graduation” ceremonies and celebrations … (snip)

One of the schools holding a separate LGBTQ+ graduation, Seattle University, indicates on its website that their “Lavender Celebration” will even include “a special performance” from “Sativa the Drag Queen,” who, later this month, is headlining an event called “DICK’S DELUXE DRAG EXTRAVAGANZA.”

Well, isn’t that special? Are they having strippers at the main commencement event? If not, why not?

Graduates and their families have always had opportunities for private post-commencement celebrations. So if you want to include Dick’s Drag or a lap-dancer from the local Gentlemen’s Club, you’re free to rent a space off-campus and order your own balloons, noisemakers and lube. But no university funds, collected from all students and their families, should be used for these race or sex-based events.

Shocking to find Catholic universities involved in this … ? Well, not really.

Graduation ceremonies really aren’t anymore. Time to bid them good-bye.

featured image original graphic by Darleen Click