Binghamton University recently changed the calendar which was posted on the official platform for over a year. They postponed the start of classes, causing finals week to overlap with commencement and moving out deadlines for off-campus students. This mirrors the predicament the administration placed on students last year, which was not met with positive results for both graduate and undergraduate students.

The first week of class should be moved online, rather than pushed back. Prolonging the semester by a week increases a student's workload during a time of already high stress, specifically for seniors or those completing graduate school. Students with leases expiring in May will now be required to participate in commencement ceremonies, while moving out and balancing numerous final examinations.  

With this change, the administration is adding extra chaos to students and forcing them to split their time between packing up their whole lives, celebrating their accomplishments, and studying for exams.

This change also minimizes a student’s graduation ceremony since they are unable to fully celebrate their accomplishments and may even have to miss their own graduation due to upcoming finals. Many people will be unable to enjoy time with family visiting because of this change. This places an unnecessary burden on students' shoulders to decide how to split their time during their last days in Binghamton. 

Due to this sudden and last-minute adjustment, graduating students are now going to face additional stress. This decision turns the goodbyes and last moments they could be enjoying with their friends into hectic days filled with chaos. The level of disregard the administration is showing students that have attended this university for years is unfair. 

Additionally, many graduate students and seniors are starting their jobs this summer. With this change in the calendar, you are now cutting into their summer break or time off. If COVID-19 is a concern then the first week of the semester, which typically only consists of reviewing the syllabus, can be moved to virtual learning for a week as students get tested. 

With 98% of students vaccinated, and many willing to get PCR tests the weeks before returning, this should not be an issue.