The Billiken's Bluff

May 11, 2004 11:00AM

The NYU College of Arts And Science Commencement Ceremony at Madison square Garden started quite ordinarily. There were 1,500 graduates present, and an arena filled with their family and friends.

Dean Matthew Santirocco gave the Dean's Welcome, followed by John Sexton's President Address. There was the typical advice, anecdotes and quoting of American icons; Emerson, Twain, and O'Neill. Each graduate then proceeded to the stage, where they had their name read, and shook hands with the faculty. This went smoothly and without incident, until graduate, Shogo Garcia took center stage.



After shaking Dean Santirocco and President Sexton's hands, Garcia de-robed on stage, standing in nothing but birthday suit. This caused a good deal of excitement in the otherwise sedate crowd. Garcia proceed to exit, stage right, running down the steps and behind the stage. He headed for the exit, and might have escaped without facing any repercussions, however he stopped to go back for his graduation cap which he dropped in the stairwell. Here he was apprehended by a security officer, who wrote him up and escorted him out of the Arena.

Afterwards, Mr. Garcia described the event as a, "very liberating experience."

What better place to liberate oneself than at "The World's Most Famous Arena".