Prague Journal

Thursday, February 10, 2005.

This morning was the formal graduation ceremony and presenting of doctoral diplomas at Charles University. My friend and VŠE colleague Eva was one of the twelve graduates. The ceremony was quite lovely, befitting the ancient building with its stone walls, arched ceilings, and organ music. Promptly at 9 a.m., the 12 candidates for Ph.D.s entered the large hall of the Carolinum to the sounds of the organ music, followed by teachers of the relevant faculty (all in academic gowns), the Promotor, President of the Faculty, Dean, Vice-Rector and Rector, in order, dressed in academic gowns and each carrying the school insignia. After the playing of the national anthem, the Dean gave an introductory speech and introduced the graduates by their first names, surnames (and possibly maiden names) and their place of birth. She stated the programs of study they concluded and noted whether they had graduated with honors. This was followed by the Rector’s approval for the act of graduation, and then the Promotor’s reading of the formula and the text of the oath from the Constitution of Charles University. The Rector said (in Latin) something like “You have made the matriculation oath and Charles University accepts you into the Academic Community. Do not forget this moment, do not forget your oath and do not forget your personal resolutions of these days. I believe they are good and clean resolutions. I hope they all come true. Quod bonum, felix, faustum fortunamque eveniat.” Each graduate makes this oath by tipping the mace and saying “Spondeo ac polliceor” (I promise). After the Promotor handed each graduate his/her diploma, one (designated) graduate gave an appreciation speech, and the organ resumed, played traditional Czech music for the recessional. No one would have mistaken the meaning of the ceremony, even without language proficiency. However, at all of the U.S. graduations I know of, the graduates would be wearing gowns and would be presented with doctoral hoods, neither of which was part of the protocol here. Only the officials wore gowns, none with a hood designating degree and/or degree-granting institution. (It’s a good bet that all the administrators attendance today had degrees from Charles University, since there are few other institutions where this university can recruit high-quality Czech-speaking academics. As a result, the academic community here is very inbred.)
While there were only twelve graduates, the ceremony was well attended. At the end of the ceremony, each graduate had multiple bouquets of flowers. Eva’s mother and stepfather were there, as were Hunsa and his parents, and two of Eva’s VŠE colleagues. The Jarosovi kids are in the mountains with friends enjoying their last free week before classes begin again, so none of Eva’s children was at the graduation (although they did call this morning to congratulate their mother). Eva, Hunsa and both sets of parents went to the art nouveau café at the Municipal House for tea and desserts after the ceremony.
Rick and I had intended to take Eva and Hunsa to dinner, but they really took us to dinner instead. We went to U Pĕkniku (“at the penny”), a Czech hospoda not far from Eva’s house. We had some of “Mr. Penny’s” specialties, all of which contained various types of meats, vegetables and cheese toppings. And, of course, lots of Czech beer.

posted by JWinn @ 10:47 PM