Recent emails from Mercyhurst University state plans for having both the Class of 2020 and Class of 2021 graduation ceremonies on the same day, May 16th, 2021. However, this scenario has some serious drawbacks and its critical that Mercyhurst and President Victor reconsider this plan. Below are the major drawbacks of this plan and a simple solution that Mercyhurst and President Victor could peruse to avoid these unnecessary complications. 

Major Drawbacks of Current Plan:

• Mercyhurst President Michael T. Victor assured the Class of 2020 that they wouldn’t be “The Class of Coronavirus,” but by combining both graduation ceremonies the same day it takes away from either class being able to claim the day as their own. Both the Class of 2020 and 2021 will now be remembered as the ones that graduated together. This option takes away both classes’ right to have the whole day, campus, city, or graduation ceremony they each deserved.
• By combining both graduation ceremonies Mercyhurst puts the friends and families of graduates at risk of not having an affordable place to stay. Large events in Erie have a history of causing hotels to be overbooked and prices to rise. The congestion involved by having both ceremonies the same day shows a lack of empathy for the family and friends of the graduates and severely increases the congestion in Erie and on the Mercyhurst campus.
• The Class of 2020 was supposed to graduate on May 10th, 2020. This day was extra special for Mothers as it was also Mother’s Day. Having the Class of 2020 graduate on May 16th, 2021 Mercyhurst takes away what everyone envisioned, especially Mothers.
• The coronavirus will highly likely still be a problem in May 2021. A recent Wall Street Journal article explains, that even if a vaccine is created in late 2020 the mass production needed to vaccinate large populations will likely take years to produce. By combining graduation dates Mercyhurst increases the health risk for the graduates, their friends and families, and local residents. 

Simple Solution:

Have the Class of 2020 graduation on May 9th, 2021 and the Class of 2021 graduation on May 16th, 2021.

• If Mercyhurst and President Victor follow this simple solution they restore that special feeling of having their own day to both classes. It ensures that both classes get their own graduation day and guarantees each has Mercyhurst and Erie to themselves on their special day.
• This solution also allows hotels to have plenty of available space for the family and friends of each class. Even if another large event or school graduation ceremony happens to take place on either day (May 9th or 16th 2021), Mercyhurst ensures there is enough space available by not creating unnecessary congestion within the city.
• By having the Class of 2020 graduation ceremony on May 9th, 2021 Mercyhurst and President Victor also give back the special occasion to mothers who envisioned their child graduating on Mother’s Day.
• This solution also creates less congestion within Erie and poses less of a health risk to the graduates, their friends and families, and residents.

Recommendations:

• Follow through with the simple solution of having the Class of 2020 graduate on May 9th, 2021 and the Class of 2021 graduate on May 16th, 2021.
• Explore options of giving the Class of 2020 the graduation they deserve in the fall or winter of 2020, if possible. 
• We strongly urge Mercyhurst officials and President Victor to seek any other possible venues that ensure the Class of 2020 and Class of 2021 get not only their own graduation day but graduation weekend.
• We ask that President Victor follows through on his promise and gives the Class of 2020 their own day and that they are not remembered as the forgotten class.
• We ask that Mercyhurst and President Victor also give this right to the Class of 2021 and do not take away from either classes’ right to have their own special graduation day.