As many of you know hurricane Irma has caused significant damage all throughout the state of Florida. The storm hit directly in Naples, Florida which is around 40 miles from Fort Myers, Florida where Florida gulf coast university(FGCU) stands. Students and faculty have not been allowed on campus since September  7th due to evacuation orders around the state. Dr. Martin, president of FGCU, made the decision on September 15th to extend the fall 2017 semester to December 23rd when it was initially supposed to end on the 16th. He has also at this time canceled the fall 2017 commencement. This means that those students such as myself who have worked towards their degrees will no longer be able to walk in a ceremony. The possibly of a reschedule has been brought up with the new date being rumored as January 6th with spring 2018 classes starting on January 8th. This decision to make finals week 3.5 days long while also adding another week to the semester was not run by the students at all. We were all completely blindsided. As a student who is taking 17 credits my final semester how am I supposed to take 6 exams in 3 days and expected to perform well? It isn't a logical task to accomplish. FGCU is known for being accommodating and technologically advanced so why can't we put lectures and other notes and materials online for the students to "make up?" Parents and family members of graduating seniors have made flights and hotel reservations in advance for this ceremony and are now in need of changing dates and times and many airlines do not do any kind of refunds. I understand the faculty is doing the best they can but they should have asked for the students input. FGCU is built on the idea of bringing people together "once and eagle always an eagle" this is just unnacceptable. Please help us overturn this decision!