Commencement has lost its soul to spineless administrators
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TL;DR
- Recent Sarah Lawrence College commencements lack the traditional joy, celebration, and emotional atmosphere of previous years.
- A visible law enforcement presence and security measures created an atmosphere of caution, anxiety, and fear, contrasting with past ceremonies that projected confidence.
- The administration's perceived failure to defend Zionist Jewish students from ideological assault and to address political slogans shouted during the ceremony contributed to student exhaustion and a hollow ceremony.
- This lack of enforcement of shared norms leads to emotional vigilance and exhaustion for students, parents, and faculty, rather than freedom and thriving.
- The article posits that this trend is occurring across higher education, where institutions are hollowing out civic rituals like commencement, eroding the capacity for self-government and community formation.
- True neutrality in pluralistic settings is presented not as cowardice, but as the framework that makes common life possible by establishing and consistently applying shared rules.
- The author contrasts the current situation with a 2014 commencement where a former alumna announced a significant donation, creating a euphoric atmosphere, highlighting the transformative impact of strong leadership.
- The failure to deliver meaningful commencement rituals results in a loss for students, families, and faculty, diminishing the renewal of their vocation and the connective tissue of institutional life.
- Recovery requires leaders who are willing to be unpopular to defend the institution, and active engagement from trustees, donors, alumni, faculty, and parents to demand standards and seriousness.