Dr. Kim and Senior Team of Columbia College Chicago,

We, students of the Graduating Class of 2020, write this letter in order to express our sadness and shock in response to the decision of canceling our commencement ceremonies.

Given the situation regarding the new coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic, it is understandable that the ceremony should not be held in May for everyone’s health and safety, since it’s impossible to predict a resolution by then. However, we all agree that canceling should not be the final call.

First of all, we do not understand how a decision that regards all of us was taken without any consultation. From our understanding, the tuition we pay includes (on top of credits, housing, and amenities) all of the expenses that go into making Commencement and Manifest possible. However, the last email regarding the COVID-19 pandemic, which informed us about the cancellation, did not mention where all this money would be allocated, and how the school would compensate us for this unilateral decision.

As Dr. Kim mentioned in the same email, we have been waiting for this moment for a very long time. Nevertheless, we don’t agree that canceling the most joyous celebration of our academic year is necessary. This pandemic has been taking away many things from us, but it doesn’t need to take away commencement as well. An opportunity to truly say “see you later,” or “goodbye,” to all of the wonderful people we’ve met through Columbia College Chicago. Our undergraduate cycle would not feel complete without this moment. All of us have made plans, invited family and friends, and we all agree that we can still all meet in Chicago, except not in May. Our deepest wish is that commencement happens after the pandemic is over, when we can gather, hug our friends, and shake our teachers’ hands. For that, we are willing to change and postpone our plans – are you?

We come from all over the country and the world, and we are another extraordinary group of individuals who represent Columbia’s spirit of diversity and inclusion. We have all worked extremely hard during the last four years, dedicated to building Columbia’s community inside and outside of the classroom. At the bare minimum, we deserve this moment to celebrate our achievements, instead of just looking at it as just another event. It is OUR event, and we would enjoy it just as much, even if it is a little later than we planned.

We hope you listen to our request and reconsider what has been decided.

Best,

Columbia College Chicago’s Graduating Class of 2020