My New York State of mind at the Columbia University commencement

  

COLUMBIA UNIVERSITY,

CITY OF NEW YORK

UNIVERITY COMMENCEMENT

MAY 18, 2022

As we waited with bated breath for the Academic Procession to start the excitement of the Graduates and their friends and families was palpable. Dressed in their Sunday best the guests peered over the hundreds of bobbing heads to see if they could identify their own progeny from among the couple of thousands gathered in their distinctive blue University academic regalia or robe, waving balloons and flags.  Draped in a golden yellow traditional Saree from Kerala that was shining  in the spring sunlight I watched with pride as I ruminated over the more personal departmental ceremony that was held a couple of days back where the students were called to the podium and felicitated for the good work they had done to complete their graduation. The air was mesmerising on both the days, with blue skies and white clouds and spring in the air added to the happiness all around. A batch of students who had faced the pandemic uncertainties with courage and determination, attending online and offline classes and still managing to complete with flying colours!

 The Commencement ceremony of the 268th academic year was being held after a gap of two years and hence the graduates were three times the usual number. The arrangement were perfect, with screens projecting the activities at the dais bringing the whole event live to each seat as well as over the internet to hundreds of friends and relatives spread all over the world. Millions of dollars were spent to sculpt the students and expand their field of knowledge so that they can independently chalk out programs and projects, to become self-sufficient and bold innovators, policy makers and leaders in their own field. The innumerable resources provided and the guidance by the luminaries from the faculty are just the top of a list of facilities provided to make the years spent at the University memorable. Columbia University, one of the eight Ivy League Universities in the US and the eleventh in the World University Ranking list 2022, is the oldest institution of higher education in New York, having been established in the year 1754 as King’s College in the grounds of the Trinity Church in Manhattan.

After the initial excitement died down the audience was requested to rise as the national anthem “The Star-Spangled Banner” was rendered beautifully by Cayleigh Capaldi and in sign language performed by Morgan Grant, both 2022 Graduates of the University. This was followed by the first stanza of the song (often referred to as the Black National Anthem) "Lift Every Voice and Sing” -  a hymn with lyrics by James Weldon Johnson (1871–1938) and set to music by his brother, J. Rosamond Johnson (1873–1954). The first stanza of the poem focuses on singing and music. The speakers of the poem say that we should all lift our voices and sing together like one big happy family in honor of liberty. The song that the speakers call on us to sing is full of hope and faith.

https://www.cnn.com/interactive/2020/09/us/lift-every-voice-and-sing-trnd/

[The lyrics "Stony the road we trod" signify the rough, painful, and violent conditions that have often come to define the Black experience]

The University Chaplain Jewelnel Davis with his opening words set the ceremony going, to be soon followed by the President Mr. Lee C, Bollinger’s Commencement Address. 

The University Medal for Excellence was awarded to the Investigative Journalist and Pulitzer Prize for Public Service winner Jodi Kantor for her work that revealed hidden truths about power, gender, technology, politics and culture and who co-authored  the book 'She Said’ with Megan Twohey igniting the #MeToo movement. The University’s 2022 Honorary Degree recipients  William Kentridge(Artist), James Polshek, Architect & Dean Emeritus of the Columbia School of Architecture, Planning and Preservation, Patti Smith, Poet and Performer, the star of the evening Hillary Rodham Clinton,67th US Secretary of State,Former US Senator from New York and Former First Lady of US, who was welcomed with roaring applause, Carla Hayden, 14th Librarian of Congress and Yo-Yo Ma, Cellist and Humanitarian with their varied stellar backgrounds indicated the effort the University had taken to identify the best models for their students to follow.

https://commencement.columbia.edu/content/2022-honorary-degree-recipients

The President’s award for Outstanding Teaching was conferred to five lecturers/professors - Mariam Aly (Asst. Prof of Psychology), Matthew I.Palmer, (Senior Lecturer, Ecology, Evolution and Environmental Biology), Josef Sorett, (Prof. Of Religion and of African Americain and African Diaspora Studies) all from the Faculty of Arts and Sciences, Devon M. Rupley Asst. Prof. Of Obstretics and Gynecology, Columbia University Irving Medical Centre and Yevgeniy Yesilevskiy, Lecturer, Innovation and Design, The Fu Foundation School of Engineering and Applied Science.

Faculty Mentoring  Awards , Faculty Service Awards  and Alumni Medals were then conferred before Michelle Estilo Kaiser, Cochair of the Columbia Alumni Association welcomed the 2022 batch of Columbia graduates as Alumni of the University assuring them of continuous support from their global network for their future ventures. This was followed by the conferring of the Course Degrees by Mary C. Boyce, Provost of the University to the Deans/ Interim Deans of the various schools. 

The school song (Alma Mater) “Stand Columbia!” Was belted out full-throated and the popular Billy Joels 1976 song “New York State of Mind” brought the ceremony to a befitting close leaving the audience in a New York State of mind.

After the ceremony there was a very disciplined scramble by the family and friends to reach their loved one, graduates, all in the iconic blue and yearning to share their joy. A few mandatory clicks from the mobile phones and soon we were off to Akhilesh's favourite Chinese restaurant. As he was still donning the blue gown during hte subway ride and walk to the restaurant he was often greeted by strangers with a smile and felicitations.  A lovely day well spent - I leave you with the lilting strains of the song..... 

New York State of Mind" is a song written by Billy Joel that initially appeared on the album Turnstiles in 1976

https://youtu.be/ol0dPJdzm1M

Lyrics

Some folks like to get away
Take a holiday from the neighbourhood
Hop a flight to Miami Beach
Or to Hollywood
But I'm taking a Greyhound
On the Hudson River Line
I'm in a New York state of mind

I've seen all the movie stars
In their fancy cars and their limousines
Been high in the Rockies under the evergreens
But I know what I'm needing
And I don't want to waste more time
I'm in a New York state of mind

It was so easy living day by day
Out of touch with the rhythm and blues
But now I need a little give and take
The New York Times, The Daily News

It comes down to reality
And it's fine with me 'cause I've let it slide
Don't care if it's Chinatown or up on Riverside
I don't have any reasons
I've left them all behind
I'm in a New York state of mind

It was so easy living day by day
Out of touch with the rhythm and blues
But now I need a little give and take
The New York Times, The Daily News

It comes down to reality
And it's fine with me 'cause I've let it slide
Don't care if it's Chinatown or up on Riverside
I don't have any reasons
I've left them all behind
I'm in a New York state of mind

I'm just taking a Greyhound on the Hudson River Line
'Cause I'm in a New York state of mind