Ban On Lei At Graduation

Woods Cross High School in Utah has banned lei at their graduation ceremony. Apparently they feel "(It) lessens the dignity of the pomp and the circumstance and the ceremony that surrounds graduation".

Personally, I think it's a bunch of uptight hooha (banning lei, not the controversy surrounding the decision). But I'm wondering how you guys feel about it.

Comments

On one hand, I can see how, in some communities, Hawaiian lei are seen as no more serious than Don Ho albums, dashboard hula dancers, and pineapple pizzas. But Utah has a moderate connection to the islands via the Mormons, and you'd think they know better.

On the other, even here in Hawaii I can see how the assorted "add ons" folks have introduced into graduations are getting ridiculous - from giant engineering structures on top of their hats to flashing bright yellow boxer shorts. I can see wanting to be more strict with the general dress code, which is basically, "identical robes and hats, plus cords."

Graduations traditionally have been pretty formal, serious affairs, but it seems now kids want to start the graduation party before they've even gotten their (symbolic) diploma. When I graduated, there were cartwheels and one mock tumble gone bad. The year after mine, a full-scale chair-throwing riot broke out.

Damn, Ryan, that sounds like fun! My high school grad ceremony was oh so traditional, and I never made it to the HPU one.

As mad as I was when I heard the news about this, I decided to check for myself. What people are overlooking is that the principal was just saying no leis DURING graduation...which I had no problem with. During my high school graduation on Maui many many moons ago everybody got their leis AFTER the ceremony anyway. That's when you get lei'd so much you freaking can't even see between the flowers. I recall almost breaking my neck trying to take all the leis off at the same time.

HOWEVER...the principal isn't making things easier by saying culturally insensitive things like "This isn't a luau..." Dumbass. Just approach it from the angle that you're not banning leis, you're banning all additions to the traditional gown and cap uniform worn during gradutation ceremonies. According to some of the stories in the Salt Lake newspapers, he was just trying to head off some rumors that graduates were going to wear cowbells around their neck and probably ring the crap out of them during the ceremony...now that would have been pretty annoying. So yeah, ban everything but let everybody go nuts with whatever they want to afterwards...he just wasn't real smart about how he did it. Hard to feel sympathy for the guy when he's saying stupid stuff. Put his name "Rick Call" in google and you'll see all the quotes he gave that make people think he's got a KKK uniform in his closet. Like I said, I sympathize and understand why he did what he did, but I don't agree with HOW he answered some of the questions posed to him. He needs a good public relations guy or something.

I work at the University of Nevada, Las Vegas where lei-wearing has almost become a tradition here during graduations. In fact, at our last law school graduation, the graduates purchased leis and wore them during the ceremony. They purchased so many that they gave the rest to the faculty and staff. Some of my co-workers were so happy since they had never had a lei. In fact, I gave my boss my lei since he didn't get one before they were gone so that he could take it home to his wife. And guess what? He's a Mormon!

My high school graduation was extremely beautiful, boasting one of the best in Hawaii. No yelling or cheering is allowed, although there are a few who still do, we are extremely uniform, and it really does provide for a great experience. I can see how people would want to preserve that.

However, it is my strong belief that the graduating class should set the standards for THEIR graduation. Be it high school, college, or whatnot, it is a celebration of their hard work. It's only but of symbolic value, I mean you can get your diploma in the mail, many of have to receive it the mail anyway cause they're not ready by the time graduation comes around.

Graduation is not a celebration of principals, or teachers, while they do provide a very important aspect of course, this night, this event, is for the students. Let the students decide how they want their graduation. Sure, don't let one student ruin it for the rest, but if it's decided that they can wear cones on their head then let them, they'll have this moment but once, it's their celebration.

In Hawaii, in fact, the BOE set up a policy allowing the graduating high school class to set their own dress codes along with deciding other factors in graduation. Empower our youth man, we gotta start somehow, let it be on their one day that is all for them.

Hear Hear! I second that motion Carrier!

How do you pronounce your name by the way, is it like "Aircraft Carrier"?

uh....sure! I never thought about it, but that sounds good. Unless you think it'd be cooler to pronounce it another way?

Leis were banned here at my private school graduation in New Hampsire...and I'm attending UHM this fall....so I really wanted to wear a lei...

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