Distinctive in their scarlet robes and soft tasselled bonnet, the Praelector plays a starring role on General Admission Day, one of the many Graduation days which take place during the academic year. At Cambridge, the Praelector is usually a Fellow of a College who formally presents students at the Graduation Ceremony at the Senate House when degrees are conferred. The Praelector vouches for the graduands both academically and personally.
At Homerton we currently have three Praelectors, who each takes it in turn to present students for graduations: Dr. Elaine Wilson, Dr. Daniel Trocmé-Latter, and Dr. Roberto B. Sileo. We caught up with Homerton’s newest Praelector, Dr. Roberto B. Sileo, to hear more about his role on Graduation Day.
“I start the day early to assist the students in putting on their graduation gowns, ensuring that they have the right hoods, jackets, bands, bow ties, socks and shoes. The rules of dress are laid out by the University (details here). For example gowns and hoods need to be arranged or pinned in a certain way, which takes a bit of practice.”
Once ready, the students have individual photos taken and then line up for a traditional group photo. This is followed by the rehearsal presided over by Homerton's Principal, Lord Simon Woolley, the College's Senior Tutor, Dr. Penny Barton, and the Praelectors. This rehearsal takes the students through what will happen when they get to the Senate House. Students are put in degree order and then sorted alphabetically by surname so they each know their correct place in the ceremony.
Then there is a picnic, BBQ lunch, or high tea prepared by the Homerton Catering team, who usually also make a wonderful Graduation Dinner the night before. Afterwards the students have time with their families in the stunning College gardens.
After lunch, students gather in the centre of Cambridge in order to process to the Senate House for the Graduation Ceremony. Homerton’s Head Porter leads the procession of Praelectors, students, and other Fellows of the College along King’s Parade. The students' families assemble at the Senate House to watch the ceremony.
The Graduation Ceremony is performed in Latin. Lord Woolley often presides at the ceremony at the Senate House. Once each degree being awarded is announced, students come up in groups of up to four and they each take a hold of a finger of the Praelector, who presents them to the Principal and doffs their hat. Each graduate kneels before Lord Woolley to 'supplicate' for their degree, putting their hands together, and the Principal then puts his hands on theirs and admits the graduand to their degree. Students are then given their degree certificate. After the last student, Lord Woolley draws the ceremony to a close and processes out to greet the new graduates on the lawn of the Senate House.
Roberto immensely enjoys Graduation Days. The role involved some training and, importantly, learning Latin.
Roberto comments “I love the celebration of Graduation Days. Everything we do, we do to see our talented students succeed so that they can change the world; lectures, supervisions, academic support, pastoral care, it is all done for these special days."
Roberto is originally from Argentina, where he studied Law and became a teacher of English. He holds a Master's degree in Law from the University of Oxford (St. Catherine's College), an MPhil in Theoretical and Applied Linguistics from the University of Cambridge (Clare Hall), and a PhD in Theoretical and Applied Linguistics also from the University of Cambridge (Jesus College). Roberto says he feels at home as the Fellow and Director of Studies in Linguistics, a Postgraduate Tutor, and a Praelector of Homerton College.
Roberto concludes: "Graduation represents the end of the student’s academic study and the start of a new chapter in an ever- changing world, where they will do great things. The College is always open to our alumni; Homerton will always be there for them.”
Our next Graduation, this time for Postgraduate students, takes place on 22nd July.
