With already a lot to fret over, including a troubled, and perhaps dangerous, patient, Mariana returns to her alma mater Cambridge. The medallion represents the authority of the President as the highest dignitary in the institution.Zoe, who Mariana considers her “surrogate daughter,” sounds scared: Her close friend Tara, a fellow student, is missing, and an unidentified body has been found murdered in marshland near the college. The President’s medallion is in the form of the University Seal and is made of solid sterling silver and held by a ribbon representing the University colors of burgundy and silver. The Marshall has the honor of serving as the macebearer at these events. Historical maces date back to the 13th century when they were first carried as ceremonial symbols of royal authority at events attended by English Kings. The mace is identified with the Office of the President and is carried in academic processions at commencement and convocation ceremonies. The chief marshall may wear a specially designed costume approved by the institution.Īdapted from American University and Colleges, American Council on Education, 1997. Only members of the governing body of a college or university, whatever their degrees, are entitled to wear doctor’s gowns (with black velvet), but their hoods may be only those of degrees actually held by the wearers or those especially prescribed for them by the institution.
Colors associated with different degrees are:Īgriculture, maize Arts and Humanities, white Business and Accounting, drab Dentistry, lilac Economics, copper Education, light blue Engineering, orange Fine Arts, brown Forestry, russet Journalism, crimson Law, purple Library Science, lemon Medicine, green Music, pink Nursing, apricot Pharmacy, olive green Philosophy, dark blue Public Administration, peacock blue Public Health and Hospital Administration, salmon Science, golden yellow Social Service, citron and Theology, scarlet, Veterinary Science, gray. The color of the facing denotes the discipline represented by the degree. The hood is lined with the official color of the college/university. The color of velvet edging indicates the field of learning. The doctor’s hood is the largest of the hoods and the bachelor’s is the smallest. The most colorful and distinctive item of the academic costume is the hood which passes around the neck and extends down the back. The color of the tassel denotes the discipline. The academic cap is usually black and the material matches the gown. The velvet trim may be black or of a color indicating the general field of learning of the wearer, for example, olive green for pharmacy, apricot for nursing, drab for business and lilac for dentistry. The opening of this gown is faced with wide velvet bands.
#THE SILENT PATIENT SYMBOLISM FULL#
By contrast, the doctor’s gown has a full bell-shaped sleeve with three bars of velvet. The master’s gown has a long, oblong sleeve, extending below the knee. The bachelor’s gown is distinguished by its long point sleeve. The academic gown today symbolizes the democracy of scholarship because it covers any dress of rank or social standing underneath. Each of the three academic degrees-bachelor, master, doctor-has its own distinctive gown and hood.
#THE SILENT PATIENT SYMBOLISM CODE#
In 1895, an intercollegiate commission adopted a uniform code for academic dress which has since been adopted by the majority of colleges and universities in the United States. American academic costume had its origins in the 12th-13th century European universities when gowns distinguished doctors, masters and bachelors from other segments of the population. They have been the traditional costume of the scholar since medieval times and probably represent an adaptation of the ecclesiastical dress since many of the scholars of the period were members of the monastic orders. The black caps and gowns worn by the students and faculty in the academic procession are of ancient origin. The special occasion of commencement is distinguished by the use of meaningful symbols: Academic Regalia (Costume)