Palmetto Proving Grounds

I'm usually a live and let live type of person. I'm kind of on the fence on this. I think it's fine for the students. I raised my hand while I was in school before I graduated. As for non-graduates, but loyal fans, I will leave you with the words from my diploma and let you decide for yourselves if you should raise your hand in the toast.
"Know all men by these presents That the Board of Trustees by virtue of authority vested in it by the State of South Carolina upon recommendation of the Faculty of the College of Humanities and Social Sciences has conferred upon (my name) the degree of Bachelor of Arts together with all rights, honors, privileges, and responsibilities to that degree appertaining."
If a non-graduate wants to toast Carolina during the singing of the alma mater that's fine with me AS LONG as they sincerely believe in the final line of the stanzas...FOREVER TO THEE.

I think we could find something else to worry about.

Well everybody was bitching about the "yellow coats" last year. Maybe security can stay busy checking alumni cards from those that raise their arms. So does the OP look around and start thinking to himself "ok that one could be an alum, no way on that one, there's a maybe"..........

Has attended. Doesn't mention graduation. So if you "have attended" but not graduated you can be included? Tempest in a teapot! JMO

My father probably doesn't even know it is for "alums" only. He does it because he is a die hard fan. I tell you what, why don't you have the university announce to the fans before each game that non-alums are not allowed to raise their hands during the playing of "your" song. We certainly don't want to damage any "grads" self esteem.

edit: i'm way late on everything.

Maybe non grads could raise their hands halfway- Would that solve the problem?

would taking one online class qualify? According to the definitions above... I say yes.

Cocker, what year did you graduate PC? I also graduated from PC in 1990.

What if u got ur bachelors at usc upstate and masters at usc cola? Alumni or not?

What does any of that have to do with raising a toast during the alma mater?? Like I said already if your doing it because you don't know that it is for students/alum then cool... However if you are doing it even though you know what it represents, then that is stupid.. I along with others never did it until we were students, out of respect for what the alma mater stands for.... Just like I wouldn't go around wearing my class ring if I wasn't an alumnus.... It's called tradition

Does it diminish the value of your diploma to have a non-alum celebrate our university by raising a toast to it? Are you so insecure that you need to exclude others from celebrating our fine university by demonstrating your inclusion?

Uh, you serious Clark? I'm not an alumnus, but I definitely say "we" and "us" when referring to the Gamecocks. As a 27 year old Gamecock who has been a fan for my 27 years of existence, I believe I have earned that right.

I can understand raising your toast even if you didn't graduate. Did I graduate? No, I didn't. Did I want to? Absolutely. Unfortunately my family's financial situation didn't allow me to and now I have to attend college where my employer wants to pay for my school. You better believe though my heart is with the University of South Carolina no matter what my degree will say.

I don't raise my toast. I consider that a punishment to myself for not trying hard enough in the years I could of earned my way into college. That's something I will always have to live with when WE cheer OUR Gamecocks on in the WB.