The tassels have turned

In the sea of black caps and gowns covering the floor and large blocks of seating in Assembly Hall, three caps sported writing in white tape, proclaiming messages that could be used to convey the collective emotions of IU's 177th graduating class. \nThey read: "I'm Done!", "I need a job" and "I'd rather be fishing." Or in other words, they represent the feelings of relief and accomplishment, the fears and nervousness of entering the "real world" and simply a desire to move on to better things. \n"I feel really great to be finally graduating," said graduate Jared Hershberger. "It was a lot of hard work, and I put in a lot of effort. Today was a good celebration of it all." \nSlightly before 10:00 a.m. and then again at 3:00 p.m. -- in two separate but nearly identical sessions to accommodate for spacing -- the class of 2006 marched behind school marshals and faculty members as they proceeded down and across the aisles of Assembly Hall and into their floor or courtside seats. \nKicking off the ceremony, IU President Adam Herbert walked up to the microphone on the platform near the edge of the court, thus invoking the approximate 3,600 graduates in each session to let out a robust cheer with the knowledge that commencement would finally begin. \nHerbert went on to lead the students in congratulating the faculty, family and friends of the graduates, saying that these are the people who helped make this happen. With resounding applause, Herbert then introduced famed Batman producer, IU alumnus and this year's commencement speaker Michael Uslan. \n"Indiana University helped me get a job and helped me achieve my dreams," Uslan said. "And it did that by catering to needs of one individual student."\nHe then described how, as an IU student, he created the first accredited course taught about comic books. Despite initial resistance from faculty who called the comics "funny books" which were "cheap entertainment for children, nothing more, nothing less," he eventually won over his critics by showing the cultural relevance by drawing comparisons from religion, Greek mythology and folklore. \nUslan's course was accredited and soon after marketing himself to the press, the story was picked up everywhere, turning him into an instant celebrity. Shortly after, comic book legend Stan Lee called and offered him a job with DC Comics, where he was later asked to write for the Batman comics. \n"In my heart of hearts since I was eight-years-old I believed that if I studied hard, worked out often and had my Dad buy me a cool car, I could be this (Batman)," Uslan said as the crowd laughed at his joke. \nUslan continued to tell his story; how the IU School of Law helped empower him to gain the knowledge and experience to make it in the entertainment industry by allowing him to participate in an individual study program. From there he moved on to eventually purchase the rights to Batman, and after 10 years of hard work marketing his idea, he accomplished his dream and launched a global franchise of Batman movies, video games and other products. \nUslan said he credits his success to four simple lessons that helped guide him throughout his life: being able to take calculated risks, believing in one's work, successfully marketing oneself and following whatever one's passion is in life. \nAfter challenging the graduating class to find their passion in life, he concluded by reciting Robert Frost's poem, "The Road Not Taken." \n"Two roads diverged in a wood, and I -- I took the one less traveled by, And that has made all the difference," Uslan said. "Best of luck and congratulations my fellow IU graduates." \nFollowing the commencement speech, which produced a standing ovation from the crowd, the graduating student body was presented with a free one year membership in the IU Alumni Association. \nInterim Provost Michael McRobbie then delivered his presentation to the graduates, focusing on a theme of following traditions of greatness by invoking the legacy of past IU leaders, such as Herman B Wells, Marcellus Neal, Frances Marshall and Alfred Kinsey. \nIn Herbert's charge to the class, he said that graduating does not mean the end of one's IU experience, as it would remain forever in memories and in the lessons it taught. He then somberly reflected on the loss of the five music students who died in a plane crash just over two weeks ago. \n"This devastating loss has united us in our grief," he said. "It also reminds us that our time together is fragile and a very exceptional gift."\nFollowing Herbert's charge, the conferral of the degrees took place as each school's dean asked the candidates to stand as a group. The dean then made the recommendation that all requirements have been met and all degrees should be conferred. In addition, students receiving doctoral degrees were asked to cross the platform and accept their ceremonial doctor's hood, and shake the hand of the provost and their dean. \nWhen all the degrees were conferred and then accepted by Herbert, the new graduates were led in song to "Hail to Old I.U." before the recession led the graduates outside of Assembly Hall. Thousands of graduates scanned the landscape, cell phones in hand as they attempted to locate and then embrace their families and friends who watched the ceremony.\n"I really thought the ceremony was very inspirational and emotional, I cried for most of the event," said Linda Degroot, who watched her daughter Kristen Huff graduate. "This is one of the nicer ceremonies I've seen, and I have a lot of children"