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April 30, 2007
Commencement Weekend honors generations of Emory graduates

by eric rangus

Light the Torch! Sound the Trumpet!

Emory Alumni Association calls the entire University community to celebrate Emory Commencement Weekend 2007, May 10–14. The theme is “The Torch and Trumpet,” and all alumni, staff, faculty, parents and students are invited to celebrate the Class of 2007 for five days.

“This year’s theme is based on the core elements of the Emory shield,” said Gloria Grevas, the EAA’s assistant director for reunions and Emory Commencement Weekend. “So much of our celebration is symbolic, so during the planning phase for this year’s events we wanted the weekend to reflect the University’s core images and one of the most prominent is the shield. The look this year is very elegant, and we are very happy about it.”

Elegance, as well as fun, will pervade the entire weekend. There is the poignant (the Candlelight Crossover where 2007 graduates cross the Houston Mill Bridge — candles in hand —from the Emory Conference Center to the Miller-Ward Alumni House, symbolizing their transformation from students to alumni), there is fun (The Torch and Trumpet Soirée, a Friday night dance party for the Class of 2007 and their family and friends), there is family (the Saturday afternoon Legacy reception for graduates who have alumni parents or siblings), and there is a lot of music (Emerson Professor of Piano William Ransom will perform on Sunday afternoon).

The weekend’s musical highlight is singer/songwriter Pete Yorn, who headlines the Block Party and Concert Saturday afternoon on McDonough Field. The Block Party, which will includes lots of games, free food and other refreshments, will begin at 3 p.m., and the music starts at 4:30 p.m. This event is open to the entire Emory community.

Yorn is best known for his hit single “Strange Condition,” made for the Farrelly brothers movie “Me, Myself and Irene” in 2000. After that soundtrack contribution, Yorn released his debut album, “musicforthemorningafter,” in 2001. Due to the strength of the lead single, “Life on a Chain,” the album went gold in April 2002. The album’s success earned Yorn a spot on Rolling Stone’s “Ten Artists to Watch in 2001” and the magazine’s four-star rating. Subsequent albums include “Day I Forgot” (2003), which went to No. 18 on the U.S. Billboard charts, and his most recent, “Nightcrawler” (2006).

While the Class of 2007 is the EAA’s next generation of Emory alumni, Emory Commencement Weekend also honors the generations that have gone before.

On Sunday, May 13, the EAA also will induct a new class of alumni into Corpus Cordis Aureum. Latin for “The Golden Corps of the Heart,” Corpus Cordis Aureum members are EAA alumni who graduated 50 years ago or earlier. Over the weekend, new members receive specially commissioned medallions, then on Monday — following a breakfast in Candler Library — they don those medallions and golden robes for Commencement. They also have special seating near the stage.

“Corpus Cordis Aureum is a relatively new tradition that has become very popular,” said Jennifer Hayward, assistant director for alumni programs. “Registration is already 30 percent ahead of last year, and once members have been inducted they are always welcome to march in Commencement. Returning members could make this year’s participation the highest ever.”

The full Emory Commencement Weekend schedule is online at www.emory.edu/COMMENCEMENT/eventschedule.html.

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