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College of Social Sciences San José State University

Commencement Program

May 25, 2022, 7:30 p.m. Provident Credit Union Event Center — at San José State University

  • Political Science
  • Psychology
  • Sociology
  • Urban & Regional Planning

Processional

Announcement of the Commencement

Yolanda Wiggins, Assistant Professor, Sociology and Interdisciplinary Social Sciences

National Anthem

Kaelyn Howard, ’23 Music Education

Welcome

Anne Marie Todd, Associate Dean, Accademic Programs & Student Success

Presiding

Steve Perez, Interim President

Congratulations from the SJSU Alumni Association

Chrissy Chang, ’96 Kinesiology, Alumni Association Board of Directors

Commencement Address

Maribel Martinez, ’03 Political Science, ’12 MA Applied Anthropology, Lecturer, Anthropology

Presentation of Candidates

Vincent J. Del Casino, Jr. Provost and Senior Vice President for Academic Affairs

Anne Marie Todd, Associate Dean, Academic Programs & Student Success

Conferring of Degrees

Steve Perez, Interim President

Alma Mater

“Hail, Spartans, Hail”

Recessional

Maribel Martínez

Maribel Martínez, ’03 Political Science, ’12 MA Applied Anthropology, is a queer Chicanx Indigenous educator, public servant and multidisciplinary artist. She has worked in the non-profit sector addressing issues of healthcare access, education reform, mental health services, and neighborhood safety measures. In 2007, she became the founding director of the César E. Chávez Community Action Center at San José State University. Martinez is a founding member of La Peña's Hybrid Performance Experiment Ensemble, the founder of The Queerceañera Project SJ, a member of Califas en Comunidad writers group, a member of Primeras Paginas playwrights group, an inaugural recipient of MACLA's Cultural Power Fellowship and a 2021 California Arts Council Artist awardee. She was the founding director of Santa Clara County's Office of LGBTQ Affairs, the first office of its kind in the United States. Currently, she oversees the Division of Equity and Social Justice for the County of Santa Clara, is a lecturer in the Departments of Anthropology and Chicana and Chicano Studies. This spring, she celebrated the world premiere of her youth play, “Becoming (MAR)” with the San José theater company Teatro Vision.

Regalia

Commencement exercises like today’s ceremony date from the Middle Ages and the traditions of Europe’s first universities. Our graduates and members of the platform party are wearing regalia — robes, hoods and caps — that are likely adapted from the clothing of medieval priests or friars. Spot the differences in the gowns:

  • Presidential gown is adorned with four bars, representing the Office of the President.
  • Doctoral gown has velvet panels down the front and three velvet bars on each of the bell-shaped sleeves. The color of the velvet may indicate the academic discipline.
  • Master’s gown may be worn open and has long sleeves with slits above the elbow.
  • Bachelor’s gown has a closed front and long, pointed sleeves.

Draped over the shoulders, the hood evolved from a priest’s cowl and was often used to carry items — the first backpack, perhaps. The lining colors signify the college or university granting the degree. At San José State, the hood is gold, blue and white. The monk’s skullcap became the mortarboard cap or tam. Black is the accepted cap color in the United States, but many foreign universities have colorful headdresses.

Tassels vary in use and color. At SJSU, the color of tassels for bachelor’s degree candidates represent each college. The colors for the College of Social Sciences is cream.

The Ceremonial Mace

An ornamental staff or scepter, the mace is carried by officials as part of formal parliamentary or academic ceremonies. A gift from the Tower Foundation of SJSU, the university’s ceremonial mace was designed and created by Art and Art History Lecturer Yvonne Escalante, ’13 MFA Spatial Arts (right photo). She found inspiration for the design in both SJSU history and the paths students take to reach graduation.

Hail, Spartans, Hail!

Hail, Spartans, Hail! — Hail, gold, blue and white!
We pledge our hearts and hands to keep thy colors ever bright.
Forward we go! We will not fail!
Sing to our Alma Mater,
Hail! Hail! Hail!