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In his Notice of 11 May 1998 (Reporter, p. 607) the Vice-Chancellor announced that he had withdrawn Grace 7 of 30 April, the Grace for the approval of the recommendations of the Council's Report on the wearing of academical dress on 'scarlet' days, in order to give members of the Regent House an opportunity to propose amendments of the Grace.
The Council have now given further consideration to the remarks made at the Discussion of this Report on 3 March 1998 (Reporter, p. 496). In their Report (Reporter, p. 386) the Council proposed that members of the University who are graduates of other universities should be permitted to wear the academical dress pertaining to their non-Cambridge degrees on 'scarlet' days. This proposal was criticized by speakers at the Discussion, but in publishing their Notice of 27 April (Reporter, p. 566) the Council did not attempt to reply in detail to the arguments used by the critics; they considered that it would not be profitable to prolong the debate, since each of the two sides took its stand on arguments which its opponents found unconvincing and there was little common ground between them. The Council therefore judged that the question at issue was one that should be decided by vote of the Regent House.
Having now had time to reflect further on the issues involved, the Council wish to comment on some of the points made in the Discussion. Professor Baker and Dr Edwards argued against the Council's proposal on the ground that the wearing of academical dress on formal occasions reflects one's membership of the University, and that it would therefore be inappropriate to wear dress that signifies membership of some other institution. The Council recognize that in the past the wearing of academical dress has no doubt been interpreted in this way. However, there is nothing in the nature of the case that demands this interpretation; the Council believe that the exclusiveness implicit in this attitude is damaging to the University and has been responsible for some of the feeling of resentment on the part of non-Cambridge graduates to which they referred in their Report. Over the past fifty years there has been a striking increase in the proportion of the University's staff who are graduates of other universities; the Council believe that the time has come to acknowledge this and in doing so to introduce a new rationale for the wearing of academical dress. If members of the University's staff who hold degrees of other universities were permitted to wear the academical dress appropriate to their place of graduation, this would signify their membership not only of this University but of the worldwide academic community of which the University of Cambridge is a part. The Council consider that this altered symbolism would be both appropriate and effective.
The Council are accordingly resubmitting to the Regent House the Grace for the approval of the recommendations of their Report (Grace 1, p. 974), as amended by their Notice of 27 April 1998 (Reporter, p. 566). They have determined, in accordance with Regulation 7 for Graces and Congregations of the Regent House (Statutes and Ordinances, p. 113) that a vote will be taken by ballot on the Grace and on any amendments of the Grace that may be proposed.
Any ten members of the Regent House may submit a written proposal to the Vice-Chancellor for the amendment of this Grace. Such a proposal, signed by those supporting it, and bearing in addition to the signatures the names and initials (in block capitals) of the signatories, should be delivered to the Registrary at the Old Schools, not later than 1 p.m. on Thursday, 1 October. Proposed amendments will be published outside the Senate-House as they are received, and in the Reporter on 7 October.
In connection with the ballot on this Grace the Registrary will arrange for the printing and circulation of any fly-sheet, signed by ten or more members of the Regent House, which reaches him by 1 p.m. on Thursday, 15 October. Fly-sheets must bear, in addition to the signatures, the names and initials (in block capitals) of the signatories (Statutes and Ordinances, p. 117). Voting papers and fly-sheets will be distributed to all members of the Regent House on or before Tuesday, 27 October; the last date for the return of voting papers will be Friday, 6 November.
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