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USM Forum -- Message Board -> AAUP-USM MESSAGE BOARD -> Southern Miss Alumni web site: One more "important new tradition"
Post Info TOPIC: Southern Miss Alumni web site: One more "important new tradition"
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Southern Miss Alumni web site: One more "important new tradition"
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http://www.southernmissalumni.com/pages/doctoralregalia.htm

Those who earn the doctorate attain the highest level of academic achievement. Now The University of Southern Mississippi will honor the excellence of its doctoral graduates with custom regalia. In a stately color of antique gold, with black and white accents and a uniquely Southern Miss design, the regalia makes its formal debut at the May 2007 commencement ceremony, ushering in an important tradition at the University....

...an initiative that originated from the Traditions Committee of the Alumni Association. Following recommendations from the Traditions and the Executive committees of the Alumni Association, the Association's Board of Directors subsequently made a formal recommendation to University President Dr. Shelby Thames to implement the concept. Upon receipt of the proposal and additional recommendations from an Executive body of the University Commencement Committee and the Executive Cabinet, President Thames approved the concept and the design prototype manufactured by Oak Hall Cap and Gown of Salem, Va....

...The robe boasts other custom features with the most distinctive being the University seal, featuring the Aubrey K. Lucas Administration Building dome, embroidered in gold at chest level on both velvet panels. The dome has long served as the visual center of the Southern Miss campus and its image is an immediate identifier of the University in-state, across the country and abroad....

...Every aspect of the regalia’s design was selected to give our alumni a garment that would be indicative of the pride that comes with earning a Southern Miss doctorate. It should be noted that Southern Miss is the only school to date to use this particular antique gold Dalton crepe cloth for a custom doctoral gown. The design is sure to connect all wearers with the University no matter how far away they roam.

“This important new tradition will distinguish those who have obtained the highest level of academic achievement at The University of Southern Mississippi from those earning doctorates at other institutions,” Pierce said. “Those proudly wearing the custom regalia instantly become ambassadors of The University of Southern Mississippi wherever they may be—across the country or around the globe."...

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Lily


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RE: Southern Miss Alumni web site: One more "important new tradition"
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At least there's not a little picture of The Man himself embroidered on the panels. Thank God for small favors.

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Curmudgeon


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That is so tacky. Most people understand that "new tradition" is a contradiction in terms. Maybe getting the university up to the third tier would be more impressive than an overstated and gauche gown.

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oldtimer


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The traditional academic gown is black, and the hood carries the colors of the academic institution that granted the doctorate.  I can absolutely not imagine anyone wearing this "clown suit," and can envision USM doctoral degree-holders discarding the gawdy robe, and just keeping the black-and-gold hood.


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Jameela Lares


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I don't have a problem with official regalia. It's a growing trend, and some of my colleagues have similar regalia from their Ph.D. institutions. In fact, if the regalia from my institution (USC) weren't so orange-toned (I'm a "winter"), I'd have gotten it, as my mother offered to pay for it. I note with some sadness that this regalia is fairly "season" neutral, which seems a plus to me.

To each his own.

Jameela

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Invictus


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Jameela Lares wrote:

I don't have a problem with official regalia. It's a growing trend, and some of my colleagues have similar regalia from their Ph.D. institutions. In fact, if the regalia from my institution (USC) weren't so orange-toned (I'm a "winter"), I'd have gotten it, as my mother offered to pay for it. I note with some sadness that this regalia is fairly "season" neutral, which seems a plus to me.

To each his own.

Jameela

I agree with Dr Lares -- custom regalia is increasingly popular. I've seen some custom-made robes that I liked, but I wouldn't go with something that wasn't officially sanctioned by the University where I earned my degree.

However, I don't see this as "tradition" as much as something new in the overall commencement ceremony. That's why I thought it was interesting that the proposal came from the "Tradition" committee instead of from a "Graduation" committee.

Of course, the real reason for making this regalia "available" is that it has a bigger profit margin than traditional black...

 


 


 

 



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Southern Belle


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"...the new custom doctoral regalia was designed by a Southern Miss alumnus. Dr. Reginald M. Houze ’00 designed the regalia and, along with Southern Miss Alumni Association Executive Director Bob Pierce, guided the process of adoption and implementation."

Did anyone realize that Dr. Reginald M. Houze did not receive his doctorate from Southern Miss?  He did receive his undergraduate degree from Southern Miss.

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Southern Belle at Southern Miss
asdf


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Southern Belle wrote:
Did anyone realize that Dr. Reginald M. Houze did not receive his doctorate from Southern Miss?  He did receive his undergraduate degree from Southern Miss.
Please don't take this as being rude, but so what?  Dr. Houze is a faculty member on the traditions committee which is the committee that originated the idea.  If he had a doctorate from USM, he would unlikely be a faculty member, therefore unlikely to make a proposal out of a university committee.  On the other hand, is the traditions committee a university committee or an alumni association committee (is the alumni association part of the university or a separate organization, I guess the "W" saga comes to mind).  If so, any alumni who sits on the committee could make the suggestion, and why not one that has seen how other universities do their doctoral gowns.  Oh, I'm already making more out of this than I should.  I guess it just doesn't matter to me who made the suggestion.



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USM Alum


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Upon hearing the suggestion re regalia I was skeptical.  However, after doing some research and hearing a presentation on the idea's origin I believe that doing such is a good thing for Southern Miss.

With regard to the Traditions Committee, yes, it is an alumni committee.  Decisions on that committee are submitted to the executive committee, and may be recommended to the general alumni board for approval. The TC is a diverse group, and I can assure you that the University's best interest is at heart.

Who else can better guard the few and emerging traditions that we have.  Our interest not only include helping the University obtained the highest possible academic standards, but they include a University rich in tradition.

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LVN


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- USM Alum, can you tell us a little more about the presentation you saw?  Was it made to an alumni group, or on campus?

 -Would this gown be worn only by those who received their doctorates from USM, or would it be worn by faculty and administration?  I thought one wore the regalia of one's degree-granting institution? 

- (Not a problem for me as I'll never wear anything fancier than a black master's gown and my nice red & white hood, but a lot of people don't actually look good in gold.)

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Incredulous


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"Who else can better guard the few and emerging traditions that we have. Our interest not only include helping the University obtained the highest possible academic standards, but they include a University rich in tradition."

What have the alumni ever done to support academic standards? I've never heard such a claim.

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Reporter


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Printz--Gradfest offers caps, gowns, etc.

http://media.www.studentprintz.com/media/storage/paper974/news/2007/03/20/News/Gradfest.Offers.Caps.Gowns.Etc-2780992.shtml

"At Gradfest, students can order their caps and gowns, graduation announcements, class rings, purchase diploma frames, join the Southern Miss Alumni Association, speak with a representative from Career Services, join the Eagle Club, join the Southern Miss Credit Union, order graduation portraits, speak with a financial aid representative, reserve seating and speak with the degree auditor from the Registrar's office.

"It's like a one stop shop for all things graduation," said Danielle Kellum a bookstore employee.

Gradfest has been an annual Southern Miss event for the past ten years, and this is the first year the Registrar's office is participating."

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Interested onlooker


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from LVN..."but a lot of people don't actually look good in gold."
Very perceptive.   Personally, as a "winter," I'm afraid I'd have to pass. 


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DJ


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Here at the University of Texas at Austin, we have new doctoral regalia as well. I think it was announced in 2004 or early 2005. It is only for those with the doctorate, and is in a very warm burnt orange. I find it rather attractive on the web page, though I suspect I will look like a float in a Miami New Years' parade wearing it. But, hey, it could be worse. I could look like a humongous bottle of Grey Poupon.

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LVN


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Oh dear, David. Please forgive me, but I laughed and laughed! Grey Poupon!

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USM Alum


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LVN wrote:

- USM Alum, can you tell us a little more about the presentation you saw?  Was it made to an alumni group, or on campus?

 -Would this gown be worn only by those who received their doctorates from USM, or would it be worn by faculty and administration?  I thought one wore the regalia of one's degree-granting institution? 

- (Not a problem for me as I'll never wear anything fancier than a black master's gown and my nice red & white hood, but a lot of people don't actually look good in gold.)
My understanding is that the gown would be worn only by those receiving doctorates from Southern Miss.  Thus, your thought is right and people would continue to wear the gowns of their degree granting institutions.  Southern Miss doctoral students could purchase the gown and wear it as appropriate.  The gown would not be worn by the faculty who did not get their doctorates from Southern Miss and nondoctoral students generally, unless something has changed.   This should be something special, and our doctoral graduates will be distiquishable among others at commencement exercises across the country.

I tend to agree with you on people not looking good in gold, but hey, those are our school colors.



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Lily


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USM Alum wrote:

 This should be something special, and our doctoral graduates will be distiquishable among others at commencement exercises across the country.



 Assuming they want to be.  But maybe that will change.



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bucky


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You have got to be kidding me. I graduated in May and thank god that I did. Those gowns are ugly - and tacky. I  much prefer to wear something more traditional. Why do I want  to acknowledge that I graduated from an institution where the president runs off respected deans? Why should I honor chairs of a department from which I graduated that makes it her mission to eliminate the program that my degree represents?

I would not have purchased this gown and I would refuse to wear it. Y'all are spending too much  time at The End Zone sipping on beers and have forgotten how to critically analyze something.

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stinky cheese man


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doctoral students do not have to buy the gown.  it's their choice.  i saw the picture of the gown on the alumni association web page and thought it looked awful.  i've subsequently seen it up-close-and-personal and it doesn't look as bad as i thought.  in fact, it looks rather nice if you like academic regalia (sp?).  i don't happen to like caps and gowns at all, so it makes little difference to me. 

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Sorry4All


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Southern Miss Alumni web site: One more "important new tradition"
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In reference to all USM doctoral grads wearing the new regalia, I doubt that CIE would buy any of these... since the majority of their faculty are USM doctoral grads it might really show how much inbreeding is taking place over there....hummmmmmmm

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