CHRIS CODUTO/Arizona Daily Wildcat Newly minted media arts graduate Joel Moskowitz moves his tassel, after UA President Peter Likins conferred degrees during commencement in McKale Center, Dec. 18, 2004. Likins reinstated the ceremony after pressure from alumni and student groups.

Ceremony disrupted despite warnings

The UA tradition of tortilla throwing returned to McKale Center for winter commencement, despite attempts by UA administrators to end the long-standing ritual.

During the fall semester, UA President Peter Likins tried to revoke the university-wide commencement ceremony for December, citing concerns about a lack of decorum during the ceremony itself.

Likins reinstated winter commencement after a compromise was made with Associated Students of the University of Arizona student leaders.

The primary concession was the installation of security checkpoints to prevent graduating students from bringing in tortillas and other disruptive items.

But even the security checkpoints, where graduates had to unzip their robes for inspection, was not enough to stop hundreds of tortillas from being thrown into the air as students were conferred their degrees on Dec. 18.

There were no interruptions during the first half of the ceremony, when several speakers addressed the crowd. Congressman Raúl Grijalva was the keynote speaker for the winter commencement.

Likins said he was very happy with the event, and was please that students restrained themselves during most of the commencement.

Likins was unsure of what changes might be made to the spring commencement, saying the Commencement Policy Committee has not had a chance to meet to discuss the winter commencement.

Grijalva, a UA alumnus, said he thought the ceremony went well.

"It was somewhat intimidating, but I was very much appreciative, particularly for the students, for the attention they gave to the address," Grijalva said.

Edith Auslander, senior associate to Likins, said she thought the ceremony improved from last year.

Auslander, who chaired the Commencement Policy Committee, said there will still be some problems with the spring ceremony.

"There were still be some behavior problems - tortilla throwing and some catcalling," said Auslander.

Auslander said she will hand over her commencement duties to Lori Goldman, the UA director of enrollment management.

Goldman, who also attended the ceremony, said she thought it was a respectful celebration.

Goldman said the meeting in late January will not produce definitive answers as to how the next commencement will be handled.

"A lot of brainstorming will be going on," Goldman said.

However, few are optimistic that the tradition of tortilla throwing will disappear from UA commencement.

"For me, it is a tradition that's time is gone," Grijalva said. "But for the life of me, I don't know how to control that."