As a student in the 2023 graduating class, I was saddened and outraged by the Universities decision on commencement ceremonies for the class of 2023. Students of all undergraduate colleges received emails on October 17th with information on undergraduate commencement. From these emails, many students of the class of 2023 found out that due to construction on Mariucci arena (where graduation is typically held) there would not be the normal ceremonies for each individual college, rather - a joint ceremony for every student of the graduating class. This joint ceremony, as mentioned in an email to students of CFANS will not permit students to walk across the stage and receive their diploma, an important part of graduation.

As a class, the second half of our freshman year was ripped away from us due to Covid. We were sent home early. Our senior year is the first year of normal college we’ve had thus far, and by taking away our graduation and walking across the stage, for many - it feels like they’re repeating what happened to us freshman year. There are many first generation college students, other students who may have never saw themselves graduating, and students who overall want to have the experience of receiving their college diploma by walking across the stage. 

We urge the University of Minnesota to reconsider this decision and find ways to utilize their other numerous large facilities to allow for each college to have their own ceremony so that students, family, and friends can have the moment of joy of walking or seeing a loved one walk across the stage.