Graduation

Well, it's over. I'm so proud of Nathan for his accomplishments! He graduated from Cornell College yesterday with a double BA in art and history. He did this in 3 years!

It is such a beautiful campus, and it is on the National Register of Historic Places. The college was founded in 1853, long before the "other" Cornell in NY. :P The college was founded by the United Methodist Church, but there is no big affiliation AFAIK. In fact, the Chaplain is Episcopal! I hope Nicolette could get a good gig like that some day! :)

Anyway, I digress....my brother, SIL, and mom drove up from Knoxville, then we all drove to IA for the festivities. We were able to take in Nathan's museum exhibit, and while we were there, the curator/director offered Nathan any support she could give. I guess she really appreciated what those two boys did for the museum. I know he liked it.

We drove around Cedar Rapids to see some post flood progress. We walked through Czech Village, or what's back, anyway. That whole area was underwater, and there are a few shops and bakeries that are back in business now. They still have a long way to go though.

We also drove through Iowa City, where Nathan will be starting this fall, to see his apt. The bldg didn't look too bad, who knows what the inside is like! LOL

Then we had a most wonderful dinner feast.....HuHot has just opened at the Linndale Mall in Marion, and O.M.G.....I'm still stuffed. LOL. It's one of those mongolian grill places where you choose your meat, veg, noodles, sauce, and then the chefs grill it for you. Instant stir fry! Pretty tasty...we can only hope one opens close by.

The Baccalaureate was very moving. Nathan actually got up for it, and I think he was glad. It was held in Kings Chapel on campus, which is a beautiful little chapel built in 1876. The bldg is stone, the stained glass is beautiful, and the pipe organ sounds great! I really enjoyed the chaplain's sermon. It was very obvious that she loves Cornell (she is an alumnus), loves the kids, and loves what she does.

We had buffet brunch in the dining hall, which was obviously better than anything the kids ever see! And we didn't have to "swarm." This is a very odd tradition at mealtimes. They have their meals set up in stations, and you never wait in line for anything! You literally push your way in front of someone if you want something from that station. New York mode! LOL Rude? Yeah probably, but it's the way things are done.

The graduation ceremony itself was in the gym. There were a few speakers, and the history prof was very interesting. One other weird tradition....instead of being seated alphabetically or by department, they let the kids choose whom to sit with. They also allow the kids to list their preferred name to be called for the walk across the stage. Thankfully Nathan stuck with his real name, since in HS he totally confused Viviano when he gave him "throat warbler mangrove" for the name. LOL However, Nathan was seated by Bubbles, there was a Sisterpants behind him, and further behind was someone named "Jessie loves Britney Spears" or something like that! No, the diplomas had their real name. I can only imagine Bubbles getting work as a stripper somewhere. LOL

I feel a bit sad that he was only there three years and didn't really graduate with his class. Although he has said that several of his friends transferred after a year because of the block schedule. He can always run over there from IC next year if he misses it! He had some wonderful professors and made some great friends.

This just sucks.... At least Iowa got it right! :D

http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/us_gay_marriage

By LISA LEFF, Associated Press Writer Lisa Leff, Associated Press Writer – 12 mins ago

SAN FRANCISCO – The California Supreme Court upheld a voter-approved ban on same-sex marriage Tuesday, but it also decided that the estimated 18,000 gay couples who tied the knot before the law took effect will stay wed.

Demonstrators outside the court yelled "shame on you!"

The 6-1 decision written by Chief Justice Ron George rejected an argument by gay rights activists that the ban revised the California Constitution's equal protection clause to such a dramatic degree that it first needed the Legislature's approval.

The court said the Californians have a right, through the ballot box, to change their constitution.

"In a sense, petitioners' and the attorney general's complaint is that it is just too easy to amend the California Constitution through the initiative process. But it is not a proper function of this court to curtail that process; we are constitutionally bound to uphold it," the ruling said.

The justices said the 136-page majority ruling does not speak to whether they agree with Proposition 8 or "believe it should be a part of the California Constitution."

They said they were "limited to interpreting and applying the principles and rules embodied in the California Constitution, setting aside our own personal beliefs and values."

The announcement of the decision set off an outcry among a sea of demonstrators who had gathered in front of the San Francisco courthouse awaiting the ruling. Holding signs and many waving rainbow flags, they yelled "shame on you." Many people also held hands in a chain around an intersection in an act of protest.

Gay rights activists immediately promised to resume their fight, saying they would go back to voters as early as next year in a bid to repeal Proposition 8.

The split decision provided some relief for the 18,000 gay couples who married in the brief time same-sex marriage was legal last year but that wasn't enough to dull the anger over the ruling that banned gay marriage.

"It's not about whether we get to stay married. Our fight is far from over," said Jeannie Rizzo, 62, who was one of the lead plaintiffs along with her wife, Polly Cooper. "I have about 20 years left on this earth, and I'm going to continue to fight for equality every day."

Also in the crowd gathered at City Hall, near the courthouse, were Sharon Papo, 30, and Amber Weiss, 32, who were married on the first day gay marriage was legal last year, June 17.

"We're relieved our marriage was not invalidated, but this is a hollow victory because there are so many that are not allowed to marry those they love," Weiss said.

"I feel very uncomfortable being in a special class of citizens," Papo said.

The state Supreme Court had ruled last May that it was unconstitutional to deny gay couples the right to wed. Many same-sex couples had rushed to get married before the November vote on Proposition 8, fearing it could be passed. When it was, gay rights activists went back to the court arguing that the ban was improperly put to voters and amounted to a revision — which required legislative approval — not an amendment.

That was the issue justices decided Tuesday.

"After comparing this initiative measure to the many other constitutional changes that have been reviewed and evaluated in numerous prior decisions of this court, we conclude Proposition 8 constitutes a constitutional amendment rather than a constitutional revision," the ruling said.

Justice Carlos Moreno wrote the dissenting opinion disagreeing that the proposition did not change the constitution's equal protection clause. He said the law denying same-sex couples the right to wed "strikes at the core of the promise of equality that underlies our California Constitution." He said it represents a "drastic and far-reaching change."

"Promising equal treatment to some is fundamentally different from promising equal treatment for all," said Moreno, who had been mentioned as a possible contender for the U.S. Supreme Court. "Promising treatment that is almost equal is fundamentally different from ensuring truly equal treatment."

Holy Cow....

http://www.weartv.com/template/inews_wire/wires.international/34b90ece-www.weartv.com.shtml