^ Why is black "classy"? Because it's traditional.

I fully understand that this is a bit of circular logic, but it's also true:

Quote :

"Representatives of American universities met in the early 1890s and agreed upon a standard style of academic attire. The Intercollegiate Code revised in 1932 and again in 1959, is followed today by American colleges and universities, except for a few schools, which continue to use the styles of England. Gowns are traditionally black; however, some universities have authorized use of a color symbolic of the institution."

http://www.wiu.edu/commencement/history.php

Quote :

"Traditional black regalia will be worn by all graduates and may not be altered, modified or decorated in any way."

http://www.nmsu.edu/commencement/dress.html

Quote :

"Academic gowns are usually black and, aside from differences in materials and fullness, there are three types."

http://www.uml.edu/academicaffairs/Commencement/About_Commencement/Academic_Regalia.html



Traditional Regalia - Bachelor Gown

Quote :

"Shown here with the traditional mortarboard cap and black link-thread tassel."

http://www.ermoore.com/products/regalia/regBachelor.do.htm

Quote :

"Color. Black is recommended. (For permissible exceptions, see below.)"

--American Council on Education

http://www.acenet.edu/AM/Template.cfm?Section=Search&template=/CM/HTMLDisplay.cfm&ContentID=10625#Gowns

Concerning the color red, there's red and then there's "Wolfpack Red." The hue (and fabric and accessories) matters a great deal. If you don't believe so, just recall the red seat fiasco at the RBC Center (originally the Raleigh Entertainment and Sports Arena):

N.C. State Officials Call New Arena Seats Unacceptable
Aug 3, 1999

Quote :

"RALEIGH — Money and deadline troubles for Raleigh's new arena have taxpayers, Wolfpack and Hurricane fans seeing red. The latest construction problem will have them seeing a whole new color. Opinions vary, but N.C. State officials say the color of the seats are unacceptable. A big part of the agreement that brought the Hurricanes and the Wolfpack under one roof was that the seats would be Wolfpack Red."

http://www.wral.com/news/local/story/135481/

BTW, I take issue with your teeth-brushing analogy. I doubt that your quotidian brushing is a ceremony of any sort.

In any event, my statement stands:

Quote :

"I know Jay [Dawkins] a little bit and he's a good guy and I applaud his initiative and that of others involved--and he may be absolutely right about the change forming a new tradition, but I'm still unsure."

[Edited on October 29, 2009 at 7:10 PM. Reason : .]

10/29/2009 6:57:06 PM

bump

3/29/2010 7:41:44 AM

I wore a red cap and gown for high school graduation.

3/29/2010 8:14:47 AM

My high school had red caps and gowns the year before me and they looked pink in pictures, etc. I guess as long as the material doesn't make the color look washed out. Remember these things are made with cheap fabric.

3/29/2010 8:51:05 AM

I would have been happy if the tassels had been red instead of the color of your school

Something about having my diploma hanging on the wall with a clemson orange tassel next to it doesn't feel right

3/29/2010 8:53:58 AM

http://www.newsobserver.com/2010/05/16/484690/campuses-hail-their-grads.html

Looks good imo.

5/16/2010 7:09:24 AM

Glad I graduated before this change. It allowed me to reuse my black gown from high school saving me $Texas.

5/16/2010 8:09:43 AM

My high school have navy blue cap and gowns

5/16/2010 9:06:04 AM

that does look good!
i am surprised.

but that's not really red, its more of a maroon.

5/16/2010 9:22:55 AM

^ That's probably for the best that it's not bright red lol.

5/16/2010 9:27:09 AM

^i know!
thats why it doesnt look bad!

that's what i was expecting since bright red is our school color more so that deep red.

5/16/2010 9:33:21 AM

they are brighter than that photo would lead you to believe. i think they look fine though.

i am jealous that they have the emblem embroidered though, that's a nice touch.

5/16/2010 10:23:37 AM

hahaha awesome:

5/16/2010 10:47:55 AM

hell yeah the red looked good! i'm so glad i put off graduating til this semester. black would have been so boring

5/16/2010 12:47:06 PM

^lol I'm in the upper right of that pic

5/16/2010 12:57:57 PM

they look good

5/16/2010 1:12:23 PM

Red looks great. Sad mine was black

5/16/2010 3:33:30 PM

it looks great

but i still like my black one

5/16/2010 3:36:56 PM

they are a lot better looking than i was expecting. I was happy to be wearing black though.

5/16/2010 10:40:06 PM

well we ARE the red and white from State so this makes sense. And it looks GREAT!

5/16/2010 11:00:26 PM

red doesn't look too bad. at least it's not the barney suits at ecu. my brother wore one 2 weeks ago. those look HORRIBLE

5/16/2010 11:36:46 PM

Quote :

"they are brighter than that photo would lead you to believe."

yeah they were definitely brighter than the 1st pic suggests. regardless, it didn't look bad at all.

5/17/2010 9:52:58 AM

those look great in the picture.

5/17/2010 9:55:44 AM

i just looked through the whole photo gallery and totally got teared up

5/17/2010 10:01:04 AM

i kinda do like the look of the red. oh well.

5/17/2010 11:11:37 AM

such bullshit...they should have done red a long time ago

5/17/2010 12:46:12 PM