Students have mixed reactions on potential of new robes
CU graduates who earn advanced degrees may be sporting gold robes instead of black ones in the future.
CU President Hank Brown is looking into the possibility of having graduates with advanced degrees wear gold gowns to separate them from other graduates.
Professor Alphonse Keasley said the gold robe he wears at graduation ceremonies inspired Brown’s interest in gold gowns.
“I love my robe,” Keasley said. “After I wore it at commencement last year, I got a message from the president saying he was looking into having more of them.”
Keasley said the robe he wore is more of a dull gold rather than a shiny one.
“(Brown) wants a robe that would rival Harvard,” Keasley said.
Brown suggested using funds from the president’s office to offset the cost of renting or buying a robe that is potentially more expensive.
Many students say they like the idea of wearing gold robes.
“Actually, gold robes are really cool,” said William O’Donnell, a senior political science major. “There’s a definite difference in the degree they earn. It could be fun.”
Other students say they agree that completing a harder degree such as a master’s or a doctorate should allow graduates to wear gold robes.
“Since gold signifies superiority and graduates do the superior degree, they deserve to wear gold,” said Erika Petersen, a freshman psychology major. “Maybe parents will be able to find their kid more easily.”
Petersen said instead of wearing black and gold robes, graduates should wear silver and gold robes in honor of CU’s school colors.
In the past, CU doctoral students wore gold gowns and master’s students wore silver ones.
Some students say they agree that graduates with advanced degrees should have special honors at graduation, but say that gold may be too showy.
“It’s just like in high school when you get honors cords,” said Alyssa Yeo, a sophomore majoring in psychology. “It would differentiate you from everyone else, but I don’t think it looks as good.”
Yeo says she likes the look of the uniform black robes.
“It would be awesome, but when I put myself in that position I would feel a little flashy,” O’Donnell said. “But I think it’s fine. It separates them from the undergraduates.”
Gabriel Habermehl, a freshman MCD Biology major, said he would rather see gold than black gowns.
“It’s better than black,” Habermehl said. “We see too much black. Gold robes are cool, as long as they’re shiny. I don’t want any dull gold robes.”
It is unclear if and when the new robes will be worn. Graduates at the 2007 winter commencement ceremony will still wear black robes.
For more information about the change in robe color, visit the CU staff and faculty newsletter Silver and Gold Record.
Contact Campus Press Staff Writer Katherine Spencer at katherine.a.spencer@thecampuspress.com.
