r/BeAmazed • u/OddDig7809 • Jan 26 '25

Miscellaneous / Others The University of Kyoto in Japan allows students to wear anything they want for their Graduation ceremony

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u/wuapinmon Jan 26 '25

The college where I taught for years (I'm now one of the emeriti there) used to have graduation outside, in mid-May, in the South. Most doctoral robes are heavy, black, and made of thick material. After probably suffering through a few OSHA violations for workplace temperature overheating, I decided to make my own robes. I have a PhD from Tulane.

My robes are Tulane green linen, with baby blue stripes on the sleeves, and secret embroideries inside my wizardesque sleeves of things that helped me become the person I am. I am a pretty peacock at graduation ceremonies and everyone always wants to look at my robes. They cost me $500 and are wholly impractical, but I love them.

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u/slaphappyflabby Jan 26 '25

I’m not an emeriti, a PhD, nor a self described pretty peacock, but that sounds awesome

I went to SCAD and our robes were pure black in the Savannah heat. I couldn’t wait to to take em off

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u/RealBadSpelling Jan 26 '25

But are you wizardesque?

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u/wuapinmon Jan 26 '25

I'm not, but my robes are.

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u/slaphappyflabby Jan 26 '25

Possibly one time during roleplaying

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u/Twistfaria Jan 26 '25

Hey fellow SCADian! 👋🏻I was there for a year in 2000 for metals and jewelry but wanted to switch to sculpture which they didn’t have at the time. Savannah sure is an odd place! Assuming you were there more recently was it still sort of dangerous? I remember being super weirded out when they made sure to tell us to not go anywhere alone at night and that a student had just been murdered!! 😳

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u/slaphappyflabby Jan 26 '25

Howdy!

I was there in 2007-10 and yes it was lol. We were told what streets to stay away from

I got my BFA in film

Funny I parked my car west of mlk downtown the FIRST time I was visiting and had a cop roll up to me telling me to move or my tires would’ve been stolen

Also I was a pedicabber ha!

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u/Twistfaria Jan 26 '25

Ooooh pedicabs would have been nice I don’t recall seeing them when I was there. For the first trimester I stayed in the girls dorm that, if memory serves, used to be something like a Jewish boarding house or community center. It was on one of the squares and behind it was a sketchy street. They told us to chain our bikes in front of the building. One time I chained it in front but at the very corner and one wheel and the seat were stolen. My bike was maybe 3 or 4 feet from all the others. I was trying to remember the dorm name but I couldn’t. I checked out the dorms on their website and it isn’t even on there anymore. Ok I searched it on google and it was called Pulaski House!! Apparently it was totally renovated and I’m not sure what it is used for now. It looks like it might be apartments. It was such a strange building! Most of the units had lofts with a second bathroom which made it 4 girls per unit. For some reason my unit was never lofted so it was just me and one other girl(thank God). The ceilings were like 30+ feet. The bunk bed was hilarious because it was super super tall, really narrow and had ZERO rails! My dad had to go buy some wood and clamps so I wouldn’t fall out! Lol. It was the tallest bunk I’ve ever seen in my life! It was significantly above head height and I would have injured myself had I fallen! I wonder what Savannah is like today? You were 7 years after me but it’s been another 15 years so who knows maybe it’s safer now! If the school kept buying up real estate there’s a chance it is.

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u/[deleted] Jan 26 '25

Post pictures please!

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u/wuapinmon Jan 26 '25

Since I retired, I'm not sure where it is. I'll look later today and see if it's at the house or in our storage unit. I packed up a lot of professorial stuff and it might be in there. My wife's still dozing; I'm sure she knows where it is. I'll also see if I have any photos from a graduation.

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u/alreadyoneleven Jan 26 '25

This has to be one of the most wholesome exchanges I've ever seen in reddit. 😀

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u/wuapinmon Jan 26 '25

Thank you. :)

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u/ENDrain93 Jan 26 '25

RemindMe! 1 day

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u/RemindMeBot Jan 26 '25 edited Jan 26 '25

I will be messaging you in 1 day on 2025-01-27 17:59:01 UTC to remind you of this link

3 OTHERS CLICKED THIS LINK to send a PM to also be reminded and to reduce spam.

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u/austin101123 Jan 26 '25

RemindMe! 1 day

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u/ryguy_1 Jan 26 '25

It’s difficult to get a photo of without students in front of me, but my partner still really loves sending me this selfie that I sent to him during the pandemic. He sends it at especially random moments.

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u/wuapinmon Jan 26 '25

Here's one I found of the top part. Inside the sleeves, I have flags of countries where I studied/lived, and a gold star for each Spanish major I advised; I think there are 18 stars (at a school of 1200!). There's also an embroidered Angel Moroni statue. I used to be Mormon and wouldn't have become a Spanish professor without having served a mission for the LDS church.

https://imgur.com/gallery/custom-tulane-phd-robes-oFWR6DW

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u/Remote-Opposite3865 Jan 26 '25

What do you have a PHD in? I am thinking of going to Tulane for a History PHD

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u/wuapinmon Jan 26 '25

Spanish (Latin-American Literature). Tulane is a great place with excellent resources, sources of financial support, and quality students. Then, there's the Big Easy. There's nowhere else like it in the USA, almost like you're living in the Caribbean. If you do decide to go there, don't live anywhere but around Tulane. Not Harahan, not Metairie, not Gretna, not Algiers, live in New Orleans proper, and try to find somewhere in Carrollton, Broadmoor, or the Garden District. You'll get the full New Orleans experience and be close to campus. Cities outside Orleans parish are like most other places in the USA, but the Crescent City is worth paying more to live in. I'd give $50 for a poboy from Crabby Jack's right now if I could summon one.

I know what it means to miss New Orleans.

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u/Remote-Opposite3865 Jan 26 '25

I live in Louisiana and even I miss the city. I am going back there for the Pokemon International Championship in June so I am excited

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u/JaimieRJ Jan 26 '25

Completely off topic, but your Reddit account is legally an adult! 🔞

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u/wuapinmon Jan 26 '25

Sometime in the last couple of years someone called me a "Reddit Ancestor" and I've leaned into that description.

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u/Law3W Jan 27 '25

Robes and such need a comeback for everyday wear.