Rites of passage set for Saturday

As classes end, exams wind down and blooming flowers decorate the campus, another group of students is ready to turn their tassels and toss their caps during this year's commencement ceremony. IUB's commencement is scheduled for this Saturday, while the seven other IU campuses' ceremonies will take place between May 10 to 16. \nFrom the eight IU campuses, 14,889 students are eligible for degrees this year, and almost half of those students are from the Bloomington campus. The almost 7,000 Bloomington students who are eligible to receive degrees include undergraduates who will complete their requirements in May, June or August, and graduate students who have already earned or will earn their degrees on a monthly basis from January through July.\nIn addition to the undergraduate and graduate students, IUB will award three honorary degrees. Samuel Hulbert, president of the Rose-Hulman Institute of Technology, and Max Marsh, a retired research adviser for Eli Lilly, will receive a doctor of science, and Herbert White, former dean of the IUB School of Library and Information Science, will receive a doctor of humane letters.\nAs in past years, this year's event will be divided into two ceremonies -- 10 a.m. and 3 p.m. -- and both will take place at Assembly Hall. Indiana Sen. Richard Lugar will address the graduates as the keynote speaker at both ceremonies.\nBill Elliott, director of University ceremonies, said the festive and celebratory atmosphere surrounding commencement is something students look forward to since their first day of college.\n"There's always a great deal of excitement in the air," he said. "The students are finished with their classes, they're surrounded by their classmates and family and they're experiencing a rite of passage.The students are moving into a new world." \nBut before the commencement ceremony, students will have the chance to reflect on their time at IU during the annual baccalaureate ceremony. Scheduled for Friday, the day before graduation, the baccalaureate ceremony is an ancient tradition, dating back to the eighth century, that celebrates academic achievement.\nFollowing the graduation send-off at Bryan House, which is expected to last from 3:30 to 4:30 p.m., the baccalaureate ceremony will begin at 5 p.m. at the IU Auditorium and is expected to last 45 minutes. Friends and family members of the graduates are welcome to attend. \nLast year, an IU committee reorganized the baccalaureate ceremony to ensure that the diversity of faiths at IU were equally represented. Now, the event is an interfaith ceremony that includes readings and practices from Christian, Buddhist, Hindu, Islamic and Jewish religions. Music, prayer and meditation are also part of the evening.\nA committee of University chaplains, students, faculty and staff members helped organize this year's ceremony. IU Alumni Association President Ken Beckley said Friday's ceremony will reflect the changes made last year in order to reach the widest audience.\n"Baccalaureate is an opportunity for graduates and their parents to pause, reflect and give thanks for academic efforts and achievements at the end of the very special stage of their lives," he said.