We, as members of the Creighton University Class of 2020, wish to thank you for your guidance and leadership throughout this unprecedented and troubling time. We understand that this pandemic is affecting members of our Creighton community and people throughout the world in profound, challenging, and heartbreaking ways. We know all university decisions at this time take into account all circumstances and try to anticipate the safest course of action even when the future is uncertain. In these times, the Class of 2020 was especially pleased to hear that a Commencement ceremony was not a question of if but when, as Fr. Hendrickson assured us via video and reiterated in an email sent to seniors on March 20: “Your graduation is not a matter of if, but when, and I stand by this.” 

We are writing this petition in response to your email message on April 24, 2020 regarding the cancellation of Commencement in its traditional form and establishing a “short recorded ceremony” to serve as commencement together with a “virtual ceremony” the day before this. We are deeply disappointed by this news. 

As the administration considers these important issues, we ask that you pay special attention to the unusual events that have left the Class of 2020 feeling extremely saddened and disheartened by the proposed end to our time at Creighton. Once the University decided to move to online classes during spring break, many, if not most, students did not have the chance to say goodbye to their friends, professors, and mentors. We were unexpectedly uprooted from the homes and communities that we have built at Creighton without the ability to gain closure, and we are left with a great sense of grief and heartache. We understand that these circumstances and sentiments were not the fault of Creighton in any way, but rather a consequence of uncontrollable worldwide turmoil and of prioritizing safety and health. With this in mind, the Class of 2020 strongly requests that you consider an alternative solution to the plan announced today:

We understand that students need official degrees to begin jobs, professional school, and volunteer work--to begin affecting positive change in the world as Creighton has trained us to do. Therefore, we urge the University to hold a degree conferral ceremony on May 16th. 

Conferring degrees and Commencement can indeed be done separately, and many other American universities have adopted this plan. A virtual Commencement will be wholly unsatisfying, and it is our opinion that the graduation that was ensured in your video can only be truly, to its fullest significance be held as an in-person ceremony. Commencement is a rite of passage held dear by those who have spent many sleepless nights and many financial resources toward completing a college degree, and the Class of 2020 deserves an event that celebrates the accomplishments, dedication, and camaraderie of our college experience. Virtual Commencement strips away the validity of the hard work and dedication that the Class of 2020 has devoted to our degrees throughout our time at Creighton.

Therefore, we ask that the University postpone Commencement, either to either to later this fall or Spring of 2021. We respectfully ask that instead of hosting a virtual commencement on May 16, 2020, Fr. Daniel Hendrickson virtually confer degrees upon the Class of 2020. Then, at a later date, the University should host a full commencement weekend for the Class of 2020 which will allow all students to walk and celebrate their accomplishments. We hope that such an event would contain a full schedule that replicates the traditional Commencement and accompanying activities. At the heart of these activities - and something that has been completely eliminated in the “virtual” plan - is the Baccalaureate Mass.  Having attended this Jesuit Catholic University, that mass is important to us as we seek God’s blessings as we end our time at Creighton. These activities also include department ceremonies, the senior March to Morrison along the same path we walked as freshmen, and a full University Commencement Ceremony, as well as other Senior Week events. We believe this solution would give the Class of 2020 the opportunity to end our Creighton careers in a manner that is much more satisfying and heartfelt in addition to being more reflective of the efforts put toward our degrees. 

These recommendations will allow the Class of 2020 to reunite, to share in the joy of each other’s accomplishments, and to experience the Creighton community spirit again in person – the same spirit that encourages strong alumni engagement and involvement in the future. We sincerely hope that you strongly consider this solution. Furthermore, we urge you to make your decision in direct consultation with the Class of 2020, students who have shown strong leadership and school spirit while attending Creighton. 

Thank you again for expertly guiding the Creighton community through this unpredictable and challenging time. Your weekly update videos have been excellent windows back into the campus we miss and vehicles of school spirit in challenging circumstances. We hope that you will reconsider the current “virtual graduation” plan and present us with the opportunity to celebrate together – with you and our beloved faculty – on our campus, even if that celebration is delayed for a year.

Written by Jacquelyn Wright and fellow members of the Class of 2020.