Commencement Begins

Harvard University’s 374th Commencement has officially begun.

With a dramatic flourish, Middlesex County Sheriff Peter J. Koutoujian strode to the podium and struck his scepter three times.

“As the high sheriff of Middlesex County, I declare that the meeting will be in order,” he bellowed.

The sea of students and family members hushed and took their seats, as the President’s division filed in and settled with ceremonial gravity. Harvard President Alan M. Garber ’76 sat atop the notoriously uncomfortable Holyoke Chair, signaling a formal start to the Commencement Exercises.

—Staff writer Dhruv T. Patel can be reached at dhruv.patel@thecrimson.com. Follow him on X @dhruvtkpatel.

—Staff writer Grace E. Yoon can be reached at grace.yoon@thecrimson.com. Follow her on X @graceunkyoon.