My school had a similar policy while the names were being read out and people were coming up for their diplomas. The reasoning was that they wanted to keep things professional and, besides, if there's a lot of cheering, the next person's name wouldn't be heard, thus ruining it for that particular person's family.

Obviously, some people disagreed but everyone kept quiet and merely waved. Once all the names were read everyone clapped and cheered, so that was reasonable.

My own opinion is: why we have to hoot and holler like the primates we were? If it were up to me, clapping and cheering would be replaced by igniting lighters. Even if you don't smoke, light one up. Fire is one of man's first achievements over the animal kingdom. Then we can sacrifice a lion upon an alter and feast on the entrails and make jewelry from the teeth. And if there's no lions, a witch.