California State University, Long Beach has changed its commencement procedure to omit the opportunity for graduates to walk across a stage as their names are called. Instead, the commencement ceremony will consist of graduates sitting in the stands of the Angels stadium (with the rest of the guests) instead of on the field where they can be seen. The graduates will remain seated for the entirety of the ceremony, except for when they initially enter the stadium. Graduates' names will not be called, they will scroll on the Jumbotron like credits at the end of a movie. 

This is not the college graduation ceremony that most of us have been envisioning during our years as students. After the immense amount of hard work it requires to earn our degrees, we deserve to be properly recognized. Many students have loved ones who will be traveling great distances to attend this commencement ceremony, only to sit in the stadium and listen to speeches instead of getting to witness their graduate accept their diploma.

Most other CSUs have returned to their original commencement procedures since last year. Just like students at other universities, we deserve to be recognized, not only by our friends and family, but by our university as well. We deserve to walk.

CSULB's class of 2022 did not get to walk at their commencement ceremony. This is not something that is only affecting the class of 2023. It is going to affect future graduating classes as well: Class of '24, '25, '26... This affects you, too. Whether you're a CSULB student, faculty member, family member, or friend, if you believe that graduates should get to walk at their graduation, please help us be heard by signing this petition.