 |
The University as Public Square
By Elaine P. Maimon
Last May, as I led the academic procession at the hooding
ceremony for our graduate students at the University of Alaska Anchorage
(UAA), I thought about the monastic tradition symbolized by academic
regalia, gown and hood. Educated people everywhere owe a debt to
medieval monks, who worked in drafty cloisters (hence the hoods) to
preserve the knowledge of the classical world. Universities in Europe
and the United States honor this preservation of knowledge, not only in
traditional academic attire, but also in architecture, attitude, and
elitism. The idea of the university as a place apart from the real
world—an ivory tower, a college on a hill—reflects the
dedication to quiet contemplation of medieval monks and
scribes.
As I assisted in hooding each candidate for an advanced degree,
I reflected on the 21st century meaning of this act of investiture.
Rather than separating the scholar from the "real world," the hood today
should take on new meaning as a symbol of engagement. . . .
Excerpted from the fall 2006 issue of The
Presidency. To subscribe to the magazine, please call (301) 632-6757,
or order online through ACE’s
bookstore.
|
|
