A British university has banned students from throwing their graduation hats, or mortar boards, up in the air over health and safety concerns, but in a “bargain” offered to add digital shots of the much-loved tradition afterwards for a price.
University of East Anglia students have been sent instructions this week to instead mime the tradition so that the traditional shot of mortar boards up in the air can be digitally added later.
“The decision to not have the traditional ‘hat throwing’ photo opportunity for students this year follows a number of injuries over recent years to graduates hurt by falling mortar boards. We want to ensure no student’s graduation day is ruined by the potential for avoidable injury,” a spokesperson for the university said. Students at a number of U.K. universities are believed to have been restricted from throwing of hats for fear of injury in recent months.
