Caltech had its commencement ceremony last Friday, and I donned a cap and gown to march up on stage with the other faculty members. It's always a great day, as years of work comes to fruition for several hundred students, ready to move on to the next stage of their careers. Naturally, there was singing. The Glee Club sent spirits soaring with the Caltech alma mater, "Hail CIT."
In southern California with grace and splendor bound, Where the lofty mountain peaks look out to lands beyond, Proudly stands our alma mater, glorious to see. We raise our voices proudly, hailing, hailing thee. Echos ringing while we're singing, over land and sea. The hall of fame resound thy name, noble CIT.
The one that got my attention, however, was the other song -- Gaudeamus Igitur, apparently a "traditional college song." How have I spent so many years in academia without coming across this one? It was sung in Latin, but a helpful translation into English was provided.
Therefore let us rejoice While we are young After pleasant youth, After troublesome old age, The earth will have us. Where are they who before us Were in the world? You can cross the heavens, You can go to hell, If you wish to see them. Our life is brief, Shortly it will end. Death comes quickly, It snatches us cruelly, No one is spared. Long live the academy! Long live the professors! Long live each student! Long live all students! May they always flourish!
Cheerful, no? We're all going to die, but at least the university will live on. Comforting. And now Wikipedia informs me that a few verses were apparently left out of our version. To wit:
Long live all girls Easy and beautiful! Long live mature women also, Tender and lovable Good [and] productive, Long live the state as well And he who rules it! Long live our city [And] the charity of benefactors Which protects us here! Let sadness perish! Let haters perish! Let the devil perish! Let whoever is anti-student As well as the mockers!
So they left out the bits that were veering uncomfortably close to sexism, fascism, and serial killer-ism. I'm thinking they didn't want the ceremony to drag on for too long.
