[NormsRevenge]

School officials in Galesburg, a working-class town of 34,000 that is still reeling from the 2004 shutdown of a 1,600-employee refrigerator factory, said the get-tough policy followed a 2005 commencement where hoots, hollers and even air horns drowned out much of the ceremony and nearly touched off fights in the audience when the unruly were asked to quiet down.

“Lots of parents complained that they could not hear their own child’s name called,” said Joel Estes, Galesburg’s assistant superintendent. “And I think that led us to saying we have to do something about this to restore some dignity and honor to the ceremony so that everyone can appreciate it and enjoy it.”

In Indianapolis, public school officials this year started kicking out parents and relatives who cheer. At one school, the superintendent interrupted last month’s graduation to order police to remove a woman from the gymnasium.

“It’s an important, solemn occasion. There’s plenty of time for celebration before and after,” said Clarke Campbell, president of the Indianapolis school board.

[AU72]

hoots, hollers and even air horns drowned out much of the ceremony

Graduations have changed a bit since mine.

[Volunteer]

Galesburg has some nice people. Unfortunately, I only got to meet some of them after I had to deal with two of the biggest a-holes I have ever met in my life at Carl Sandburg Community College. One was a truly mentally ill professor type and the other was an Associate Dean who told me 3 times in 90-seconds that he was "the dean".

When I spoke with their boss the next day, he apologized for both of them and admitted they pulled this nutty behavior often.

All in all, Galesburg isn't on my list of places to visit again any time soon. After reading this, it is even less of a tourist spot in my mind.