The Pageantry of Commencement

The Procession

Academic ceremonies begin and end with a procession. Derived from the clerical processions of the Roman Catholic Church, processions contain many symbolic elements. 

The chair of the faculty carries the mace, the institution’s most significant symbol of authority. A staff made of wood or metal, the mace has antecedents in both Roman and medieval history, when it was used to restore order, implement punishment, or protect individuals of authority. Today, academic maces are carried to indicate the presence of presidential authority. 

The mace of Marist College has the traditional long squared stem reminiscent of both the Roman and medieval maces. It supports a three-sided crown on which is emblazoned the seal of the College. This tripartite crown symbolizes the three goals of the College: excellence in education, the importance of community, and commitment to service. The seal is composed of two concentric circles on which is engraved "Marist College, Poughkeepsie, N.Y." On the inner section are the interlaced letters A and M with the date 1946 at the foot of the letters and 12 stars above them. The whole is crowned with the motto Orare et Laborare (To Pray and To Work). The letters A and M are the symbols of Mary as are the 12 stars, a reminder of the traditions of the founders of Marist College.

The medallion is worn around the neck of the president. Like the mace and seal, the medallion is a symbol of authority. Its roots may be traced back to the Roman bulla, a golden amulet of honor. The obverse of the medallion shows the seal of the office that the wearer holds—in our case, the seal of the College—and, not infrequently, the reverse shows the personal seal or coat of arms of the bearer. 

Banners are another symbol from medieval history that have been incorporated into academic ceremonies. They are also known as gonfalons, derived from the word gonfalonis, which were associations of citizens in Florence, Italy, who adopted banners as their symbols in the 12th century. As symbols of state or office, Marist’s banners are carried by selected members of the graduating class and represent the seven schools of Marist College. They feature the primary color of the College and a contrast color representative of a major discipline within the school. 

Academic Regalia

The pageantry and dress of the academic procession have been inherited from the medieval universities of the 12th and 13th centuries. Academic life as we know it today began in the Middle Ages, first in the church, then in the guilds. The teaching guild was the guild of the master of arts, where a bachelor was the apprentice of the master, and the dress was the outward sign of privilege and responsibility.

Principal features of academic dress are the gown, hood, and cap. These express the scholar’s degree, institution, and subject of study. European regulations concerning regalia date to the 15th century and have been repeatedly revised. In contrast, American regulations were established in 1895 and have changed very little. The American Council on Education revised the code in 1932 and it, for the most part, continues to govern the style of academic dress today.

The flowing gown comes from the 12th century. While it originally may have been worn as protection against the cold of unheated buildings, today it has become symbolic of the democracy of scholarship, for it covers dress of any rank or social standing. It is black for all degrees, with pointed sleeves for the bachelor’s degree; long, closed sleeves with a slit at the arm or wrist for the master’s degree; and full bell sleeves for the doctor’s degree. Only the doctor’s gown has trimming, featuring velvet facing and three velvet bars across the sleeves in the color distinctive of the faculty or discipline to which the degree pertains.

The hood is trimmed with two colors. The lining is the primary color of the college, and the binding along the edge denotes the discipline represented by the degree. 

When Roman slaves were freed by law, they won the privilege of wearing caps. The academic cap is a sign of the freedom of scholarship and the responsibility and dignity with which scholarship endows the wearer. Old poetry records the cap of scholarship as square to symbolize the book. Tassels have been part of academic costume since 1340. Tassels are moved from the right to the left in unison after all candidates have received their diplomas.