Friday, 26th October is graduation. I have several friends graduating, and I am rather looking forward to seeing them achieve this milestone. However, ever since I arrived in July, there’s been a persistent rumor that the president is coming to graduation. After all, it is Archbishop Orombi’s last graduation as Chancellor of UCU.
This graduation is also the launch of a year-long centenary celebration of the Bishop Tucker Theological College, the precursor to UCU. So, of course the president has to come.
Honestly, as thrilled as I am for my friends, I was hoping to just come for the part where they just read the names of the graduating students, and skip all the pomp and circumstance. Besides, the dry season is coming, so it’s starting to get hot, and I’ve sat through a graduation from start to finish, both inside and outside a tent, thankyouverymuch.
But now, I’m a lecturer, and must be somebody, because this mail was waiting for me at the faculty this week.
While I don’t need the card for the car park, in order to sit in a tent, I do need the invitation card, and to receive refreshments after, I do need the smaller card (I’ve not received that one before!).
The program is printed on the back.
UCU does run its graduations well, and they do follow the program pretty well, ending on time, which to me, is an incredible feat. There were around 900 students graduating with me last July, and they moved through the faculties rather well.
The challenge lies in the last sentence on the card: mobile phones and cameras will not be allowed at the graduation venue. That is a standard sentence, but some phones and cameras end up on the pitch (field). However, the president is coming, so this will be strictly enforced. I’m just grateful that I stay inside, because security is going to be heinously tight beginning the afternoon prior.
What I’m really afraid of is not having anything to do while we wait for the president. Because truly, I’ve been at several venues in which the president was scheduled to attend, and he has never been on time. I suppose that’s his perogative as president, and we will probably do what we can until he comes, but really, several thousand people are going to be held hostage on the pitch while we wait. I can’t have my phone, so no trying to pass The Moron Test 2. 🙂
I have been told that I’m to join the academic procession, so at least I’ll be under a tent. I don’t have any academic regalia here, which is good enough, because being smart in my collar will be enough. As a friend used to point out, rank has its responsibilities: I’m not a student anymore.
Leave a Reply