The Two Hundred Sixty-Sixth Commencement

through a slit in the sleeve. The doctor’s Latin from his Memory in a handsome to a committee-room of Congress, took
gown and the master’s gown may be worn oratorical Manner,” there were also me by the hand, walked with me a short
open or closed. “publick Disputations in Latin” by all six time, flattered me a little, and desired me to
candidates for the bachelor’s degree on present his best respects to my classmates,
Although some universities prescribe a six separate questions in philosophy and and his best wishes for their success in life.
solid color such as red, crimson, or green theology, and “an elegant Oration in the There has never been such an audience at a
for their doctoral gowns, in the United Latin Tongue, delivered memoriter,” by Commencement before and perhaps there
States most are black. In some cases Aaron Burr Sr., the second president of the never will be again.” Later, in 1812, Ashbel
the gown’s trim matches the edging of College. Today, Latin is still used by the Green became Princeton’s eighth president.
the hood, thus indicating the profession president in the conferring of degrees and
or field of major interest. The doctoral by the salutatorian. Degrees are conferred Academic Honors
gown has bell-shaped sleeves as a further under the authority of the president and the
distinguishing mark. Trustees, as established in the charter. In Membership in Phi Beta Kappa is
token thereof, the president and Trustees based on general academic performance
Because members of the Princeton wear caps when conferring degrees. Each throughout the college course and through
University faculty completed their graduate time a dean or the University orator puts election by the society. Membership in
work at many different educational on a cap and goes to the lectern to present Sigma Xi is accorded in science and
institutions in this country and abroad, candidates for degrees, the Trustees also engineering. Undergraduates who show
there will be a variety of raiment in today’s put on their caps. The president makes promise in scientific and engineering
procession. Some degree holders wear no appropriate remarks and tips her cap to research are elected to associate
hood because their academic robe itself signify the formal conferral of the degree. membership. The national engineering
symbolizes the degree awarded (witness the society, Tau Beta Pi, has a chapter at
scarlet gown of Oxford). The Latin used by the president in Princeton to which certain candidates
the conferring of degrees is simple and for the B.S.E. degree are admitted in
The length and shape of the academic straightforward: Auctoritate mihi a recognition of superior scholarship.
hood and the width of its velvet edging curatoribus Vniversitatis Princetoniensis
help to identify the level of the degree commissa, vos ad gradum primum in The first honorary degree given by
that the wearer has earned. Sometimes artibus et cum honoribus, ut indicatum est, Princeton was master of arts honoris causa,
velvet edging is used to indicate the field admitto. “By the authority vested in me conferred at the first Commencement
or discipline in which the degree was by the Trustees of Princeton University, upon Jonathan Belcher, governor of the
granted. Some examples of colors assigned I admit you to the degree of bachelor of Province of New Jersey and promoter and
to different disciplines are: dark blue, arts, with honors as indicated.” The same benefactor of the College, who secured
philosophy; light blue, education; peacock formula is used for all the other degrees its second charter. The Trustees sought to
blue, public affairs; brown, fine arts or with appropriate amendments. honor him further in 1756 by proposing to
architecture; copper, economics; green, name the College’s first building for him.
medicine; orange, engineering; pink, music; The Latin Salutatory and He declined and suggested instead that it be
purple, law; scarlet, divinity or theology; the Valedictory named in honor of William III, “a branch of
white, arts, humanities, or letters; golden the illustrious House of Nassau.”
yellow, science or science in engineering. The Latin salutatory is the oldest
Commencement honor, dating to the first Today candidates for honorary degrees
The lining of the academic hood Commencement in 1748. Some of the most are selected by a committee made up of
provides added color and gives further distinguished members of the Princeton Trustees and members of the University
meaning to most academic costumes. The faculty were former salutatorians, including community. The criteria used in the
black shell of the hood, varying in size for Henry Burchard Fine, Henry van Dyke, committee’s deliberations include genuine
each of the three kinds of degrees, is lined Allan Marquand, William Berryman achievement and distinction in an activity
with the official color (or colors) of the Scott, Henry Norris Russell and President consonant with the mission of the
college or university conferring the degree. Emeritus Robert Francis Goheen. University; the advancement of learning
More than one color is often shown by the in the arts, sciences, and technology, and
use of the chevron or by an equal division The valedictory was first awarded as for the public welfare; and distinguished
of school colors. a graduation honor in 1760. Probably contribution in elective, appointive, or
the greatest moment ever experienced career service notable for demonstrated
Caps, generally mortarboards with by a Princeton valedictorian was the one qualities of intellect as well as character.
tassels, have their own significance. enjoyed by Ashbel Green in 1783. The Candidates must be approved by a vote of
Some foreign degree holders wear Continental Congress held some of its four-fifths of the Board of Trustees present
special hats, distinctive to their degree meetings that year in the library room of and voting.
and institution. Master’s and bachelor’s Nassau Hall. It adjourned its sessions to
tassels are black, while the doctor’s tassel attend Commencement. Green concluded Music for Commencement
may be black or gold. The doctoral cap his valedictory with an address of some
may be made of velvet. length to George Washington, who was Members of the Chamber Orchestra of
present. “The next day,” Green later Philadelphia, conducted by Michael Pratt,
The Use of Latin recorded, “General Washington met me in conductor of the University Orchestra
the entry of the College as he was going and director of the Program in Musical
In 1748 the exercises were conducted Performance, provide the music for today’s
entirely in Latin. Besides the address
by the salutatorian “performed in good

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