Thank you.  Funny you should mention the costume... many thought that the gown and tam (that's apparently how academics say "hat") looked sort of midevil.  A few classmates were looking for their magic wand and saying things like "wingardium leviosa" and "expecto patronum."

As for the torture... I think this ceremony was suposed to signify the end of it.  However, now that we are studying for the bar exam, I'm not so sure that was the case.

Best,
Robert A. Franco
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