Tip:
Highlight text to annotate it
X
♪ upbeat music ♪
Jim: My name is Jim Carothers,
I'm a Professor of English at KU.
I came to KU in 1970 and since
that time I've seen about 35
commencements.
The graduates from all the
schools assemble with their
units at the top of the hill
and the faculty proceeds
down the hill first toward
the stadium and forms a
benevolent gauntlet.
And then the students walk down
the hill.
They're with their classmates
and they're having a lot of fun.
They reach the stadium where
the formal ceremonies begin.
{Graduates doing Rock
Chalk Chant}
The walk down the hill was
certainly in place by 1924.
There was the procession down
the hill to the new stadium.
The alumni magazine has
reported that the first walk
through the Campanile was in
1950.
That has become an important
part of that tradition.
The walk down the hill is
distinctive among university
commencement traditions and I
think at KU we are fortunate to
have some traditions that are
very nearly unique.
The traditions reinforce a
sense of belonging.
{Graduates singing
"Hail to old KU"}