Who has the Ugliest Academic regalia?

Just a little diversion now that most all of my work is done for my online coursework this semester.

Has anyone ever chosen or ruled out a graduate program for a PhD on the basis of regalia? Has that ever been a criterion in the decision-making process?

I'm considering PT online as well as FT B&M PhD programs for a doctorate in business admin/marketing for possible studies starting in 2006. One of the B&M programs I considered was UT-Dallas. We have friends there, it's not really too far away from my home state, and it's a decent PhD program in the same department as an MBA program that's ranked in the top 80 by USN and does both B&M studies and offers an online MBA that's known for catering to non-traditional students. So far, so good, seems like a perfect match in many ways.

But then I happened to look at their PhD regalia: it's a hideous black, orange and green monstrosity that looks like it was designed by some kind of pop artist under heavy medication. I just don't think I could see myself donning that thing once or twice a year in front of students and colleagues and being snickered at behind my back. Am I just insufferably vain?

So here goes my bottom 5 worst PhD regalia:

1. UT-DALLAS (see above)

2. TULANE - Fine school, but advocado and light blue? Are you kidding? You gotta see it to believe it.

3. STANFORD - What's that? The first time I saw faculty members dressed in that at a commencement I had to ask someone: "What kind of degree is that? A Masters? Where are the PhD stripes?" To be insanely intelligent and get in, then make it through and get your PhD, then to spend the rest of your commencements forevermore explaining your regalia to all but the most initiated is just unconscionable on Stanford's part. Give them three PhD stripes!

4. HAWAII - It's green with black velvet and white stripes. That's not so bad by itself, but the shade of green seems more appropriate to a gaudy golf shirt. How about a little subtlety?

5. HARVARD - It photographs better than it looks in person. That's not crimson, it's PINK folks! (well, maybe to be kind, it's magenta--bad enough). If you went to Harvard, you deserve better than dressing up for commencement looking like that.

If you want to see some of these, Oak Hall and E.R. Moore have photos online of different uni's custom regalia. Does anyone know more places where such data and photos can be found?

I welcome other contributions, and perhaps a list of best regalia as well.

 

University of New Mexico is pretty bad; blinding bright colors and a Beefeater hat with a sort of corrogated brim...

It showed up at about the same time as someone decided to give UNM law and medicine grads gold tassels...post hoc ergo propter hoc?

 

I've seen their regalia, but I actually think the robe itself for UNM looks great, but with regard to the beefeater, you're absolutely right. That looks absurd. So what type of regalia would you wear were you to become a prof? Do UNM law grads wear the traditional black with purple doctorate stripes or can you--as if you wanted to--wear the official UNM doctorate regalia? Actually, now that I think of it, that may be a solution to the UTD problem, I could just wear basic black regalia with the UTD hood, that would minimize the damage. Of course, there's the little issue of gaining admittance to that or any other business PhD program--first things first.

 

Black velvet mortorboard, shiny (faux silk) black gown with black velvet sleeve stripes and facings, ugly gold tassel, purple faced Doctor's hood.

We used to rent it, now they've got to buy a really chinzy looking plastic one time use gown and mortorboard.

Sigh. How standards DO erode over time, to be sure!

 

I can understand that for HS graduation, maybe even UG, but for a doctorate? Even if "only" a Juris Doctorate. Can't they afford something a little better than a disposable outfit about as well-built--so it sounds--as the average kid's Halloween costume? No, what am I thinking? They spent all their money on three years of tuition, they can barely afford to eat.

I never went to any graduation but HS. Just headed out of town, so I never bought any regalia whatever. But if I ever need to, that is, if I ever manage to land that faculty position, I'll dig deep and buy something decent, especially if I'm to wear it a couple times a year for the next two or three decades.

 

Hmmmm. That looks awfully familiar. In fact it looks remarkably like an Oxfird DPhil gown that's suffered a well overdue attack of good taste.

Have a look at http://www.shepherdandwoodward.co.uk/acatalog/S___W_Ltd__Oxford_University_Robes_14.html and trust me when I say they've toned down the colour and the contrast. The Oxford DPhil gown is probably the most horrible clash of primary colours you'll ever see walking.

Angela

 

No doubt, little fauss, that you have singled out some of the worst offenders to the senses among US regalia.

UT-Dallas is the worst hands down. The situation in person is even worse than you describe. The gown is black with green half sleeves and orange velvet stripes and panels. Add to this the hood. A PhD hood is dark blue velvet. Science is yellow gold, which would clash with the orange, of course. Whoever designed the UTD gown was on ecstasy or some other mind-altering substance. Actually, the half-sleeve design can work. Penn uses the same model, except that they have taste when it comes to colors.

Like you, I don't much like Tulane or Hawaii, either. I do like the UNM gown, however. The Beefeater is a British doctoral cap, which dates I think from the 16th century. It was used by non-clerical doctors in fields such as law and medicine, I think. Now, it is used almost everywhere in the UK for doctoral dress. It looks weird to Americans, but at least it's different.

I also don't much like the Nova Southeastern doctoral gown. The color scheme is alright, but I dislike the NSU embroidered on the panels. I looks cheap and unimaginative to me.

The Stanford gown is a hibrid of the Oxford half-sleeve and the turned-back sleeve lining of the Cambridge higher doctoral gowns. I suppose if you have to pattern yourself after someone, Oxbridge would be a good choice. I like the Stanford gown because it is so different from most other US regalia.

Actually, you were right the first time about Harvard. It's not magenta, it's pink. Actually, it's fuchia--hot pink. The color, which Harvard calls "crimson" (one of the great non-sequitors in the fashion world), works well for the black bachelor and master gowns. My master gown looks quite striking with its pink hood, and I usually get comments about it. When I saw the doctoral gown for the first time at the Harvard commencement, however, I was shocked. I suppose I'm a little shocked still, but over time, the gown has grown on me.

UTD gets my vote for the worst in the US. However, there is one that I think is worse still: the doctoral dress from, if memory serves, Cranfield University in the UK. It is--ok, ok, wait for it--pink and light blue with a black Beefeater hat. I swear I start looking for the little car with five clowns in it everytime I see that outfit.

marilynd

 

No offense to Brother Brian but this is fairly unattractive:
http://www.siena.edu/Friary/BRBRIAN.htm
Jack

 

Yup. That's Tulane, although this is the first time I've seen it with the university seal on the panels.

Ugly, ugly . . . yoooooogly.

Tulane, of course, is a very good school--and New Orleans is known for its outlandish clothing and behavior--but really!



marilynd

 

Yep. Worse than UNM.

My heavens what an awful color scheme!

 

Angela:

The Bristol gown is just like the Oxford gown only purple is substituted for the blue.

I'm not sure which I like least.



marilynd

 

Hey, nosborne.

eBay has a brand new law gown for London graduates.

Item #5390545727

It could help keep you motivated.

marilynd

 

Herff-Jones also has some of the special doctoral gowns:

http://www.herffjones.com/capgown/college/special/special.html

BTW, if you want to see the Cranfield gown, click here:

http://www.cranfield.ac.uk/alumni/graduation01/silsoe2.htm

marilynd

 

Here is my vote for the best US regalia:

1. Notre Dame

http://www.herffjones.com/capgown/college/special/notredam.html
Among the most "regal" of the regalia.

2. Yale

http://www.ermoore.com/products/regalia/schools/YaleUniversity.htm
It doesn't look like much in the photo, but it is stunning in person.

3. William and Mary

http://www.oakhalli.com/academic.asp
(click on "Find Your School" and scroll to William & Mary)

4. Columbia

http://www.oakhalli.com/academic.asp
(click on "Find Your School" and scroll to Columbia)

Okay, perhaps I'm a bit partial on this one, but it looks much better in person than in the photographs and the color of the sleeve bars can be chosen to repeat the discipline color (white = Arts, deep yellow = science, light blue = education, etc.).

5. Rensselaer Polytechnic

http://www.ermoore.com/products/regalia/schools/RensselaerPolytechnic.htm

There are many red gowns. To my eye, this is the best. In person, the gown is scarlet . . . I mean the color you would want your 'Vet to be.

There are certainly more fine looking gowns than ugly ones. I would say, if you can get into a school that has a good looking gown, go for it--assuming, of course, the quality of the education is commensurate with the quality of the gown.



marilynd

 

I agree with Notre Dame, excellent-looking gown, befitting the most famous Catholic institution (sorry B.C.), and RPI's looks awesome. I also like UT Austin's new regalia.

 

Counselor Osborne:

As you lean leftward and are certainly no fan of Republican politics, it must have a special meaning for you to think that Newt Gingrich received his PhD from Tulane and was a prof for many years, I believe went from that pretty much straight to politics, sort of like the Anti-Wellstone.

Imagine Newt resplendent in that advocado and powder blue at commencement.

 

Avocado? Is THAT what it is? Looks closer to guacamole, bit more white in it, maybe. Come to think of it, I've seen new sailors turn just about that color when things get a little rough...

That's right, Newt was attached to Tulane, wasn't he? Well, like him or not, no one could say that he wasn't an accomplished man. A hypocrite, sure, but not unaccomplished.

 

One of the my professors at North Carolina Wesleyan College, Dr Kenneth Finney, went to school with Newt at Tulane. Newt got his PhD in history one year ahead of Dr Finney. Gingrich's dissertation was Education in the Belgian Congo 1914- 1930. I believe I have the years right, but the title I remember. Dr Finney didnt speak much of Newt. He just kinda smiled when I brought him up.

 

Have you found a photo of UT's new gown? All I have seen is a line drawing to this point.

marilynd

 

Marylynd ( or anyone else),

I need a fellow librarian's( or anyone else) help here. I am having problems finding this. I would like to see the University of Houston-Main Campus's doctoral gown. I know the company that use is Heriff-Jones, but cannot find a picture. I am looking for the social science gown. Thanks. I should( God willin' and the creek don't rise) graduate in May of 2008.