This Week in Vanderbilt History

This Week
In Vanderbilt History ...

Heard

Chancellor Alexander Heard shifted Vanderbilt further away from its Methodist roots by approving the removal of baccalaureate from graduation ceremonies on April 6, 1976. University Secretary Robert McGaw explained that the decision to cancel Commencement's only Christian service was due to "increased secularization, scheduling complexities and decreased student attendance." University Chaplain Beverly Asbury was pleased with the news because he believed that baccalaureate "had just about lost all of its religious flavor." A desire to provide some opportunity for worship led the Office of University Ministry to hold an interdenominational service the night before Commencement.

Source: Vanderbilt Hustler, April 6, 1976
-- Meghan Codd

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