Thomas Jefferson University recently apologized after the names of some graduates from the nursing program were unrecognizably mispronounced at their commencement ceremony, leading to viral videos of the event. The mispronunciations were attributed to the phonetic spellings written on the speaker’s cards, resulting in names like Sarah Virginia Brennan being pronounced as “Sayer Oo-voon Geen-goo Bree-none” and Maeve Elizabeth as “May-vee Lee Zu-beth.” The errors led to public outcry and embarrassment for the graduates who had their names mispronounced.
The university issued a statement apologizing for the mistakes, acknowledging that each graduate deserves to have their name honored correctly on such an important day. Videos from the commencement ceremony showed numerous mispronunciations, including the speaker pronouncing “Thomas” as “Tom-mu-may” before being corrected by the graduate. Graduates walked across the stage in alphabetical order, leading to several students having their names pronounced incorrectly in front of a large audience.
Footage from the ceremony went viral on social media platforms, with one video of the speaker announcing graduates with last names starting with “B” or “C” garnering over 370,000 views. Another video, filmed from the crowd, received over 2.4 million views, along with numerous likes and comments from shocked viewers. The incident prompted comparisons to a comedy sketch, with many expressing disbelief at the glaring mispronunciations that took place during an event meant to celebrate the achievements of the graduates.
As the last names reached the letter “L,” the speaker was replaced, and an apology was issued to the crowd for the errors in pronunciation. The university explained that the mistakes occurred due to the way phonetic spellings were presented on the speaker’s cards, leading to confusion and incorrect pronunciations of names. Despite the missteps, the university emphasized its respect for the graduates and their hard-earned accomplishments, expressing regret for the disrespectful manner in which the students’ names were handled during the ceremony.
The incident highlighted the importance of proper pronunciation and attention to detail in ceremonial events, especially when it comes to honoring the achievements of graduates. The viral videos of the mispronunciations served as a reminder of the impact that such errors can have on individuals and the need for careful preparation and execution during important ceremonies. The university’s apology and acknowledgment of the mistakes sought to rectify the situation and show respect for the graduating students who had their special day marred by the mispronunciations.
Moving forward, the university may implement changes to prevent similar incidents from occurring in future commencement ceremonies, such as providing clearer phonetic spellings or ensuring that speakers are well-prepared to correctly pronounce each graduate’s name. The public response to the mispronunciations underscored the significance of names and the importance of showing respect and recognition to individuals during significant events like graduation ceremonies. Ultimately, the incident served as a learning opportunity for Thomas Jefferson University and highlighted the need for attention to detail and sensitivity when honoring the accomplishments of graduating students.
