Commemoration celebrates JHU's 136th year

Hopkins hosted its annual Commemoration Day yesterday in honor of the 136th anniversary of Daniel Colt Gilman's inauguration as the University's first president. According to Susan Boswell, Dean of Student Life, this relatively new tradition was created as a way to recognize the founding of the university.

"I think this tradition is now probably four or five years old, and I think it's really nice to celebrate the beginning of the university this way," Boswell said.

The main event in the Glass Pavilion featured free cake, refreshments,  and giveaways of scarves and pins with info cards about the University's founding. Hopkins and Peabody sophomore Peggy Houng and the all-male a cappella group, the AllNighters, were on hand for musical performances. Displays were also set up featuring archival photographs of Hopkins, including Homewood campus during the early 20th century.  

Other activities planned for the day included a Commemoration Day button giveaway in the Breezeway Wednesday morning and a Jeopardy game on knowledge of Hopkins at Nolan's that evening.

Janet Kirsch, Campus Programming Coordinator, organized the Commemoration Day events and felt they helped to bring out school pride among undergraduates.

"I just like it that a lot of people are wearing their Hopkins school spirit, which is really nice," Kirsch said. "I think that's the point is to show your appreciation of your college and campus."

According to Kirsch, Commemoration Day in previous years had offered students free shirts, but starting last year she decided to change it up by switching to hats and offering scarves this year. While the archival displays have been carried over from previous years, Kirsch notes that she changed things up with the inclusion of a harp player and a few more balloons for decoration at the main event in the Glass Pavilion.

Shijit Dasgupta, a junior, enjoyed the free apparel that comes with Commemoration Day each year and also found the harp performance to add a nice element to the atmosphere in the Glass Pavilion.

"It added a touch of class," he said.

The actual celebration of Commemoration Day impressed senior Drew Rosenberg, who appreciated the amenities provided at the main event.

"I think it's pretty neat that [Hopkins] actually celebrates commemoration day because I know a lot of schools don't," he said.

Rosenberg also appreciated the highlighting of the university's history through the archival displays.

"Hopkins has a really long and storied history that needs to be celebrated, so props to the administration for that," he said.

Students were not the only ones to enjoy the festivities. MSE Library staff members Crystal Maitland and Jennifer Robertson found themselves enjoying the cake, but were more impressed with the displays.

"This is the first event I have come to and I very much enjoy the incorporation of the archival material," Maitland said. "It's great to see the see photographs and get a little taste of the history."

"It's nice to have an occasion to celebrate," Robertson added.

Dean Boswell, who took a shift herself to slice and serve cake at the event, reflected on the opportunity that Commemoration Day offered for students to reflect on the University's roots.

"I think it's a nice opportunity for people to just take the time to think about the institution, when it was created, how it has grown over the years and celebrate it," Boswell said.