The Daily Egyptian is published by the students of SIU at Carbondale. Except during vacations and exam weeks, The Daily Egyptian is published Monday through Friday during the fall and spring semesters and TWThF during the summer semester."

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Graduation: A Family Affair

When George Douglas Robinson Sr. walks across the stage for the SIUC summer commencement ceremony Saturday, he will not only be a participant, but also a spectator. Robinson's son, George Douglas Robinson II, will also be graduating from SIUC and they will literally be walking across the stage together.

Both father and son will graduate from the College of Business and Administration. The elder Robinson, who goes by George, will graduate with a bachelor's degree in management. The younger Robinson, known as Doug, will receive his bachelor's degree in marketing.

In 1999, George, who was principle owner of a home building company in St. Louis, decided to sell out of the company. With some veteran's benefits from serving in the Navy and the desire to have his own consultant practice, he decided to use the opportunity to attend college. With ample amount of work experience but no real academic credentials, George jumped at the chance to attend college.

Around this time, his son Doug was also facing a decision - whether to attend college right away. According to George, deciding to attend college helped his undecided son make the decision to pursue a degree as well.

"I would like to think that I influenced him to go to school," George said. "Certainly once he got in school, he was on his own motivation. When he first got out of high school, college was 'Yeah, maybe.'"

According to Doug, his dad influenced him by his own career and opportunities. Having worked numerous successful jobs in his life, including one at the White House at the National Security Council, George never received a college degree.

"One thing that stuck in my head was you can get so far, but after a while you're only riding on the coattails of people," Doug said. "So he really pushed getting an education."

Both Robinsons started their college careers at Parkland College in Champaign. According to George, once Doug attended his first semester of college, the motivation and drive was all his own.

George said after two semesters and after visiting "almost every state school within the system," father and son decided to transfer to SIUC.

"I think I exposed him to getting into school, to wanting to go to school," George said. "But certainly once he got in, he had his own accomplishments and provided his own motivation."

According to Doug, he and his father only had a few classes together, but there were times when they would run into each other almost every day on campus.

Having his father on campus was "weird" at first, but Doug appreciated his father's help and wisdom.

"It would be kind of weird because I would tell people about my dad and then they would have my dad in a class. At first they're like, 'Who is this guy?' But then they're like, 'Your dad's real smart, he brings a lot to the table," Doug said.

"Not only was he a father figure to me, but to other students that were younger and didn't have that knowledge background."

George said the few classes he and his son did share could present some funny experiences, like having the same name twice on the role call.

"It was pretty unique," George said. "It was kind of fun with the instructor because a lot of times they would lose a senior or the second by the time that the computer printout came out so it was kind of funny sometimes. They're like, 'Why do I have two George Robinsons? Do you guys know each other?'"

Although father and son have shared the college experience and even a few classes, Doug has been able to maintain his own independence and living space.

"He's been able to keep his own identity and go do his thing, but it's made for a lot of crossover social experiences, like at tailgates and Homecoming and stuff like that," George said. "So I've got to know a lot of his friends and vice versa."

Even though Doug did not share living quarters with his father during the school year, holiday breaks and summer vacations were a different story. According to George, Doug's breaks spent at home were a short travel.

"We initially started out at Evergreen Terrace, " George said. "I would always get my son back during the holidays and summer semesters so his idea of going home was to go from the dorm to Evergreen Terrace."

The fact that both father and son will walk across the stage on Saturday has not yet sunk in for George. The excitement of graduating and the fact that his son will be starting his new life on his own draws mixed feelings for George.

According to George, sharing his college experience with Doug has allowed them to form a unique and special bond with each other.

"Overall, it's been a real positive experience," George said. "It's a special bond. We're not only alumni from the same school but we've went through the process together. I think there's a unique bond that's a result of it. There's just a specialness to it."

Even though father and son have enjoyed earning their college degrees together, George believes that Doug is ready to be independent and on his own.

"I'm sure he's anxious to get out of my shadow," George said. "I'm anxious for him to be on his own, to be independent. So it's a mixed bag."

According to Doug, he enjoyed attending college with his father but looks forward to moving to Chicago and carving out a niche of his own.

"I enjoyed the experience with my dad and I think he's taught me a lot," Doug said. "But it's time for me to apply what he's taught me and what college has taught me into the real world and see where I go from there."

Saturday will be a time for the Robinson family to gather together and celebrate both George's and Doug's accomplishments. Doug will also prepare to leave for Chicago on Sunday.

Both Robinsons' academic careers will not end on Saturday. George has bought a home in Herrin and will attend SIUC in the fall in pursuit of his master's degree. Doug will travel to Chicago to attend Louis University for his MBA.