Editor's notes
The circumstances behind the pomp

Going backstage for Chicago’s Spring Convocation offers another way of seeing a ritual event.

Session II of the 477th Convocation, held alfresco in Harper Quadrangle on Friday, June 11, at 3:30 p.m., featured blue sky, green leaves, gray limestone, and colorfully attired family members choosing vantage points from rows of folding chairs. Led by the Highlands drone of the University of Chicago Pipe Band, the procession marched happily if self-consciously through Cobb and Hull Gates: marshals and student marshals, degree candidates, professors, trustees and officers, Rockefeller dean and convocation speaker, candidates for teaching awards and honorary degrees, provost and president.
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Chicagophile
Cartoonist Jessica Abel, AB’91, sees Court Theatre do classic drama with a contemporary twist.
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Letters
…use of “major” was coined by William Rainey Harper…

• How he thought we did it
• Missing expert?
• Lack of concentration
• “Major” is pure Chicago too
• C-plus/c-minus effort
• See-minus effort
• Weintraub remembered
• Chapel of grub
• On the wrong track
• His piece of the action
• Reaching truth
• Hersh hype?
• Now that we have a Paris Center...
• Online lift
• Keep those e-mails coming

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