When you talk about such things the next day with someone who was there, what was the usual cause of these scuffles?
Someone felt “disrespected”? Disagreements over the unified field theory? The ‘rents just wanna fight, and you better let ‘em?
I’ve never understood this combative component of the, uh, Norwegian personality. It’s hot, you’re sitting there dressed-up—you’d think they’d want to go home, not pound one another.
the smart people ignored the fight and got to be first in line at the all-you-can eat buffet.
I honestly can't say. Perhaps someone made a rude comment. Who knows? All I can say is that the ceremony is moving along, then all of a sudden a fight breaks out in the audience. The school police (pretend police) try to break it up, but to no avail. Then the city police (real police) show up with dogs and guns, and the whole thing gets shut down.
It makes for entertaining theater. Except for the fact that there are decent graduates on stage who deserve a peaceful and dignified ceremony.