How important is Tradition?

Folklorists understand that tradition is extremely important. How that importance translates into everyday life is something that folklorists regularly examine. This article from today's Inside Higher Ed looks at the re-emergence of the university convocation as a way to boost retention of incoming freshmen and graduation rates. The idea is that convocations mark a rite of passage for new students. Convocations invoke ritual that allows students to see themselves as part of the idea of the university.