College commencement warning: Behave or be gone!

The band plays the first bars of “Pomp and Circumstance” as graduates walk across the stage. It’s a beautiful ceremony for a momentous occasion.

But then someone blows an air horn. Another person throws an inflatable beach ball. Cell phones ring.

As Georgia’s colleges prepare for commencement this month, organizers are reminding students and audience members to behave appropriately. The University of Georgia and Georgia State University will hold their ceremonies Saturday and posted notices on their Web sites asking everyone to show proper respect for what is a formal academic ceremony.

UGA warns: “Individuals who engage in inappropriate or disruptive behavior will be removed from the event.”

Georgia State officials said they used to make an etiquette announcement during the ceremony, but no longer do that because students’ names are not recited.

It’s easy to get excited during graduation, but people must respect the ceremony, the university and its traditions, said Cindy Post Senning, a director of the Emily Post Institute, which offers etiquette advice.

Hooting and hollering may not be appropriate, but Senning said people can clap and cheer for their graduate provided they don’t drown out the announcer.

“There’s the ceremony and the celebration,” Senning said. “That should help you keep track of what to do at which.”

COMMENCEMENT

CEREMONIES

Saturday (May 9): Agnes Scott College, Clayton State University, Georgia State University, Oglethorpe University, Southern Polytechnic State University, University of Georgia, University of West Georgia

Monday (May 11): Emory University

May 14 and 15: Kennesaw State University

May 16: Morris Brown College

May 17: Morehouse College, Spelman College

May 18: Clark Atlanta University

May 29: Georgia Gwinnett College

May 30: Savannah College of Art and Design (SCAD)

Source: Area colleges