The Wake

As the semester begins to wind down at the University of Minnesota, graduating students are anxiously awaiting their honorary processional across Northrop Mall to receive their academic honors. While most students will march to the traditional melody of “Pomp and Circumstance,” some students will celebrate their academic achievements to the tune “We are Family.”

Since 1997, the Gay, Lesbian, Bisexual, Transgender Programs Office has organized an honorary ceremony for graduating GLBT students. The ceremony, called the Lavender Graduation, offers students an opportunity to be recognized for their GLBT identity as well as to celebrate the end of their academic career.

“It’s about affirming your accomplishments,” said B David Galt, director of the GLBT Programs Office. “For many GLBT students surviving at an academic institution with the stresses that can come from sexual orientation and gender representation can be very challenging.”

The event, which can be best described as a mock graduation, begins at Northrop Auditorium where graduating students, dressed in GLBT provided cap-and-gown, march to the theater in Coffman Memorial Union where they are awarded a certificate of completion. In addition to the certificate they are also offered a rainbow tassel to wear on their mortarboard. After the ceremony there is a reception and banquet for the graduates and their friends.

“The graduation allows (GLBT) students to experience something with their community,” said Galt. “You go to a school this big and often times you don’t get to graduate with your friends. This allows people who have been important to you to be together and celebrate together.”

Because there are various similarities between the Lavender and University ceremonies, many people mistake the event as an actual graduation.

Galt said that although the word “graduation” is part of the title there is no official link between the Lavender Graduation and the University’s graduation. Other groups like the African American Learning Resource Center or the Asian/Pacific Learning Resource Center have similar ceremonies, which honor graduating members, he said. Although they are titled as banquets or award ceremonies, they basically celebrate the same things, he said.

While the GLBT offers a free cap, gown and tassel to those who participate in their event, students cannot wear their GLBT garb during the University graduation, he said. While some other organizations have invested in specialized clothing, which has been permitted in the University ceremony, the GLBT has not found an affordable option to identify their members, Galt explained. Although there is a rainbow sash, which is approved for use in the University’s graduation, they have been too costly.

“Our office covers everything we offer to our students and we don’t expect them to take on any additional costs,” he said.

This year’s ceremony is expected to be the biggest yet as an estimated 50 graduates from the Twin Cities, Morris and Crookston campuses will be participating, Galt said. In addition to honoring the graduating members there will also be performances by the Twin Cities Gay Men’s Chorus and the University of Minnesota quintet.

The ceremony will be on April 29th.