The University of Auckland graduation ceremony of Monday May 2 got testy when university staff tried to prevent a graduating student from wearing a rosette in support of academic staff.
Vernon Tava, a Masters of Law student, was asked to remove the rosette, which was identical to those being worn by many academics at the ceremony, or face being prevented from graduating.
Tava stated in a press release that “I pointed out that there were no grounds for them preventing me from entering the theatre, [and] a male member of staff put a restraining hand on my chest and another official asked rhetorically, ‘would you like us to search your pockets Sir?’”.
Tava was able to graduate by hiding the rosette in his trencher according to Auckland University Students’ Association President Joe McCrory.
The incident has drawn further attention to the University of Auckland’s attempts to renegotiate key provisions of academic staff’s collective agreement.
University of Auckland graduation drama
