On Saturday I attended the Göteborg University doctoral conferment ceremony. This is the event where those who have written doctoral thesis’ or those who are granted honorary doctorates are awarded the symbols of their dignity. The whole affair was very grand with speeches in Swedish, English and Latin.
The whole affair begins and ends with a long parade of academics led by flags and insignias. It also includes two people carrying thick marshall batons – these used to be those who kept the peace in academic life. I never knew that academics ever needed to be physically subdued.
I was among the 188 new doctors created on that day in a three hour ceremony. I was going to give the whole thing a miss but at the same time it is kind of nice to have attended. The actual conferment occurs when the faculty representative (called the promotor) steps on to the stage and begins by awarding himself/herself her degrees. Basically she crowns herself with the laurel wreath while uttering the correct Latin phrases. Then the doctors are called forward to receive their diploma and are physically lead across a small bridge by the promotor. This symbolizes the Parnassus mountain (the home of the muses) and the travels and struggles needed to obtain the doctoral dignity.
Three hours passed surprisingly quickly and despite my anti-ceremony approach to life, I enjoyed myself.