University Jewish Chaplain David Leipziger has been working with administrators, faculty and students to alter the Baccalaureate given at commencement.
“Ritual is not something that has found its way into Wesleyan graduation,” Leipziger said. “We want to make Baccalaureate something that everyone feels comfortable with and gets excited about, something that can incorporate the creativity of the entire class.”
Originally, Baccalaureate was a farewell spiritual speech delivered to the graduating class upon their commencement. Catholic, Protestant as well as Jewish spiritual messages were given.
This year there is a new initiative for graduation to get the entire community involved in something distinctively Wesleyan. A committee of two staff, two faculty and two students will launch a pilot project to emphasize student creativity in the Baccalaureate. Students’ reflections on their years at Wesleyan may be submitted in the form of an essay or an artistic performance.
Louise Brown, senior class dean, said that student participation is requisite.
“Graduation is a reflective moment that should be captured by everyone involved,” she said.
There have already been several submissions, both in essay and artistic form. The final deadline is April 16. The committee hopes that the project will become even more popular in the next few years.
“This is one of the best ideas to come down the pipelines in a long time,” said Professor John Finn of the Government department, who, like other members of the committee, said that Baccalaureate and graduation could use a little reinvention.
“We hope that students will take a moment out of this busy time to celebrate the milestone of graduation,” said Director of Student Activities and Leadership Development Leilani Kupo. “It is a wonderful opportunity for students to reflect on what being at Wesleyan has meant to them.”
Many other schools have longstanding and creative traditions for commencement, and the committee has attempted to incorporate a variety of these ideas into the Wesleyan project.
“We want to start a partnership between the students and the University as a way to get students involved in their own graduation,” Leipziger said.
“Anything that integrates all parts of the community is a spectacular idea,” Finn said.
“[The Baccalaureate is] a testimonial and appreciation for four years at Wes, where 700 voices can be spoken for, to share the class’ experience,” said senior class president Jenina Nunez ’04.
One of the main problems with Baccalaureate in the past was the religious focus. Previously, one member from each of the three main denominations on campus would speak.
“If Baccalaureate is seen as religious, it won’t include everyone, and isn’t very Wes,” Leipziger said.
The recreated Baccalaureate has become an initiative of all three chaplains as well as the planning committee.
To make this ceremony is unique to Wesleyan, the committee has compared it to events in orientation such as In the Company of Others.
“As In the Company of Others is an entrance to Wesleyan, we want this Baccalaureate to serve as an exit,” Kupo said.
Most importantly, the Baccalaureate will be by and for the students.
“This is an opportunity for personal reflection,” Brown said. “To look at the ways you have grown and developed as people and intellectuals during your time here and how you will negotiate life afterwards.”
The committee said it wants the reflections to change Baccalaureate from a little-known tradition into a valued part of Wesleyan’s rite of passage.
“Many seniors don’t even know what Baccalaureate is,” Kupo said. “Now we can use it to highlight students’ achievements, as their last hurray, a way for the class to leave their mark on Wesleyan.”
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