The activities of Emory’s 158th Commencement celebration offer just the right mix of tradition and freshness, from the first event this Thursday all the way through its culmination: the awarding of degrees to the Class of 2003 on Monday, May 12.
Perhaps the most prominent debut event is the first one to take place. Class Day will feature remarks from actor Danny Glover and is scheduled for
5 p.m. on Thursday, May 8, in the P.E. Center.

The idea behind Class Day is to give seniors a memorable tradition that involves a well-known speaker. Glover is not the only notable guest who will be turning up on campus for
Commencement. Oxford’s Commencement speaker will be Cynthia Tucker, editorial page editor for The Atlanta Journal-Constitution.

The main Emory Commence-ment ceremony, which begins at 8 a.m. on May 12, will feature Nobel Prize-winning poet Seamus Heaney, who will deliver the main address. Also speaking will be Heaney’s fellow honorary degree recipients medical researcher Anthony Fauci, Pulitzer Prize-winning author David Levering Lewis, and composer and music scholar Carlton “Sam” Young.

Many longtime traditions return, such as the Baccalaur-eate service and brunch on Sunday, May 11, and the president’s open house that follows it. This year’s open house will be particularly poignant because of President Bill Chace’s impending retirement.

The campus’ newest building, the Schwartz Center for Performing Arts, will play host to Commencement activities for the first time. The Nell Hodgson Woodruff School of Nursing’s Pinning Ceremony will take place there on Saturday and several business school events—the Beta Gamma Sigma induction and BBA and MBA awards ceremonies are scheduled for the center as well. This is also the first year the BBA and MBA ceremonies have been separate events. Since the BBA and MBA students rarely mix, it made sense to split up their award ceremonies. So the new format is being tested on a trial basis.

The business school intends to use the Schwartz Center to its advantage. A performance piece by BBA/theater studies double major Brittany Abbass is planned for the BBA awards ceremony, and Yates Drew, an soon-to-be MBA graduate and guitar player, will perform a self-penned song at his graduation.

Other new events include a brunch honoring graduating Emory Scholars, and an awards luncheon for Executive MBA program graduates.

The full schedule of Commencement activities is detailed below.

Thursday, May 8
• Class Day: 5–6 p.m. P.E. Center. 404-727-6022.
• Emory Senior Class Reception: 7–8:30 p.m. Conference Center Hotel.
404-727-6160.
• Class of 2003 Desserts and Entertainment: 8:30 p.m. Miller-Ward Alumni House.
404-727-6169.


Friday, May 9
• Senior Banquet, School of Medicine: 6:30 p.m. Black tie optional. 404-727-5655.
• Oxford College Baccalaureate Service: 7–8:30 p.m. Oxford Old Church. Reception to follow. 770-784-8300.


Saturday, May 10
• Oxford Commencement: 10 a.m.–noon. Oxford Green. Free parking available around campus perimeter.
• Parent Council Commence-ment Brunch: 10 a.m.–noon. Miller-Ward Alumni House. By invitation only. 404-727-0673.
• Emory Scholars Senior Brunch: 11 a.m.–1 p.m. Cox Hall Ballroom. By invitation only. 404-727-9297
• Beta Gamma Sigma Induction Ceremony: 1–2 p.m. Emerson Concert Hall, Schwartz Center. 404-727-1042.
• Business School BBA Awards Ceremony: 2–4 p.m. Emerson Concert Hall, Schwartz Center. 404-727-6390.
• Legatee Reception: 4–6 p.m. Miller-Ward Alumni House. 404-727-4880.
• Business School MBA Awards Ceremony: 4:30–6 p.m. Emerson Concert Hall, Schwartz Center. 404-727-1042.
• Law School Reception: 4:30–6 p.m. Hunter Atrium, Gambrell Hall. 404-727-6832.
• Business School MBA Reception: 6–7:30 p.m. Jenkins Courtyard, Business School.
404-727-1042.
• Business School Evening MBA Awards Banquet: 6–8:30 p.m. Cox Hall Ballroom.
404-727-4477.


Sunday, May 11
• Baccalaureate Service: 9:30 a.m. Glenn Auditorium. Video screens will be set up on the lawn. Parking and shuttle service will be available from the Fishburne deck.
• Baccalaureate Brunch: 10:45 a.m.: Dobbs Center. Shuttle service will be available to the President’s Open House and to the Fishburne and Michael Street decks. 404-727-6407.
• President’s Open House: 11:30 a.m.–1:30 p.m. Lullwater House. Shuttle service available to Fishburne and Michael Street decks. 404-727-6007.
• Cookies, Coca-Cola and Conversation: 12:30–2 p.m. Jones Room, Woodruff Library.
By invitation only.
• Nursing School Pinning Ceremony: 1 p.m. Emerson Concert Hall, Schwartz Center. 404-727-7977.
• Carlos Museum Open House: 1–3 p.m. Carlos Museum.
• School of Public Health Reception: 2–4 p.m. Rita Anne Rollins Room, Rollins Building. 404-712-8481.
• Emory College Honors Ceremony: 2:30 p.m. Glenn Auditorium, reception to follow on the lawn. 404-727-0674.
• Nursing School Tea: 2:30 p.m. Nursing Building. 404-727-7977.
• Dean’s Reception, School of Medicine: 3–5 p.m. WHSCAB Plaza. 404-727-5655.
• Service of Sending Forth, School of Theology: 4 p.m. Cannon Chapel, reception to follow in Brooks Commons. 404-727-6153.
• Commencement Concert: 6 p.m. “The King of Instruments Meets the Pied Piper.” Glenn Auditorium. Timothy Albrecht, University organist, and Carl Hall, principal piccolo/flute in the Atlanta Symphony Orchestra, performing. Free. 404-727-6690.


Monday, May 12
• Commencement Ceremony: 8 a.m. Quadrangle. Following the main Commencement ceremony, individual school ceremonies will take place across campus.

Emory College: 9:45 a.m. Quadrangle.

Medicine: 9:45 a.m. Glenn Auditorium.

Business: 10:00 a.m. P.E. Center. Reception to follow in the Jenkins Courtyard of the business school.

Graduate School: 10:15 a.m. Church School Building Amphi-theater. Reception to follow in the Church School Building.

Law: 10:30 a.m. Gambrell Hall. Reception to follow on Gambrell’s west terrace.

Nursing: 10:30 a.m. School of Nursing Building. Reception to follow in the nursing school
courtyard.

Public Health: 10:30 a.m. Rollins Plaza. Reception to follow in the Rollins Building.

Theology: 11:30 a.m. Glenn Auditorium. Reception prior to the ceremony will be held in

Brooks Commons at Cannon Chapel.


• Executive MBA Awards Luncheon: Noon–1:30 p.m.Third-floor reception hall,
Carlos Museum. 404-727-2278.

For more information regarding Commencement 2003 at Emory and Oxford, including the rain plan, refer to www.emory.edu/COMMENCEMENT.