My commencement photos are online!
Seventy-six of ‘em in all, which is a bit less than half of the total. Some were taken with my camera, some with Becky’s mom’s camera. Enjoy!
A few highlights are after the jump, starting with some bulletin-board material for the Message Board That Must Not Be Named:
I know, I know. I swore to myself that I wouldn’t be a d**k and do ‘SC stuff on graduation day, like holding up the victory sign on stage, or wearing Trojan gear under my robes, or whatever. I told myself that, for just this one day, I’m a Domer only — just Irish, not an Irish Trojan. But then, while packing up the apartment, I stumbled upon Becky’s old graduation sash from USC, and, well, damn, it was just so perfect… I couldn’t resist taking this one picture, first thing in the morning before venturing over to campus. And then of course, the picture turned out well, and it’s funny, so now I can’t resist blogging it… and so here I am, pissing off the militant Domers once again with my sacrilege. Oh, well. I guess there’s no use running from it: an Irish Trojan is simply who I am, now and forever. And that’s what an Irish Trojan looks like on graduation day. :)
A cool shot, taken by Ginny, showing me and my parents both from the front and from behind.
Another cool shot, this time by me, of fellow graduates processing out of the Basilica after the hooding ceremony.
I just love the bemused expression on Professor Rougeau’s face as he watches the graduates try to line up for a class picture.
Here’s that photo I asked my readers to fix. Thanks to Dane, Eric, Michael and Uncle Rick for sending in submissions; all were quite good, and reasonable people could disagree about whose was the best. But I chose the above version by Tom Greca (who also designed this year’s NCAA Pool logos). Thanks, Tom! I feel like that photo is actually presentable now!
Two photos of me being dorky: first by talking on my cell phone in the midst of all the pomp and circumstance, then by looking up at the sky (blocking the sun with one hand) trying to make an amateur forecast of when it was going to clear enough to make better photos possible.
In keeping with tradition, the architecture grads show off their unique headwear.
Professor Rodes looks downlight gleeful as he arrives at the diploma ceremony.
By far the cutest aspect of the day’s festivities was the whole take-your-kids-on-stage thing.
Aww! So cute!
A truce in Paulinogate? :)
Ryan Rudd’s mother prepares to accept her son’s diploma posthumously. (I took a video of her walking on stage, which I’ll post later.)
Toni and me in front of Touchdown Jesus.
Again, you can view the full gallery here. If anyone wants a full-size version of a particular photo, send me an e-mail to brendanloy [at] alumni.usc.edu and tell me which one(s). I don’t guarantee I’ll respond right away (the next week of my life promises to be pretty hectic), but I’ll try to do so eventually. Feel free to harass me multiple times if I don’t. :)
May 22nd, 2007 at 1:51:48 am
I’ve always gotten a kick out of funny hats.
May 22nd, 2007 at 8:16:54 am
I can’t believe you posted that photo of you in the SC shawl! Do you really have a death wish?
May 22nd, 2007 at 9:28:12 am
There aren’t THAT many Domers in this part of the world.
May 22nd, 2007 at 12:24:59 pm
Um, it’s supposed to be kids who were born during law school. Unless that’s a three-year-old with gigantism, I’d say someone cheated.
May 22nd, 2007 at 12:55:40 pm
Oh, whatever. Anyone who would actually object to something so innocent (and adorable) deserves a lifetime of endless Smithburn Evidence lectures.
May 22nd, 2007 at 1:56:25 pm
“it’s supposed to be kids who were born during law school”
Apparently Dean Peshel has changed the rules. You might want to take it up with her.
May 22nd, 2007 at 2:49:42 pm
Oh, theateus. You haven’t changed a bit!
May 22nd, 2007 at 4:08:30 pm
You mean there’s actually rules about it? I just thought it was sort of a “do as you please” sort of thing. I mean, Justin brought up his wife, and she definitely wasn’t born during law school. ;) Actually, is she pregnant? I thought maybe that was why she was going up with him. Anyone know?
May 22nd, 2007 at 4:44:45 pm
You better hope she’s pregnant, now that you’ve raised the possibility
May 22nd, 2007 at 10:09:57 pm
Well, when I graduated it wasn’t so much a “rule,” just a tradition for graduates to be accompanied by children born during their time in law school. At least, that’s what was done at all three law school commencements while I was a student. I certainly don’t remember anyone ever bringing a spouse on stage, but I guess you could parade your entire extended family up there and no one would, like, stop you.
May 22nd, 2007 at 11:21:53 pm
Lisa/domerlaw2006:
No, I wouldn’t actually say there are “rules” — I was just mocking Anon @ 12:24:59. As for what the tradition may or may not have been in 04, 05, or 06, I can say nothing. I can only report that Dean Peshel sought me out at the luncheon on Saturday to encourage me to bring my kids, plural, up to the platform with me when I receive my degree. There was no mention of a litmus test based on birthdate; the invitation was clearly extended to both of my kids. In any event, I readily agreed to do so, and I did so. If I violated some unspoken rule, tradition, or taboo that exists in somebody else’s head, I can live with that, because I have a great memory to share with my children for the rest of our lives, which ultimately matters to me just a little bit more than what anyone else thinks.
As for Justin — no comment. :)
May 23rd, 2007 at 6:06:56 pm
Anon, that should be: theaetetus