Mount Saint Mary's University LA has decided to make the graduating Class of 2021 commencement as a drive thru ceremony at the parking lot of Exposition Park. Many universities have announced that they are able to organize an in-person sit down ceremony where family and friends can safely celebrate the graduates. The pandemic has halted many ceremonies in 2020 and caused many people to not experience a once in a lifetime opportunity such as graduating. Now that the state of CA is lowering in COVID-19 cases and vaccinations are available for the all ages 16+, celebrations such as graduation are able to resume safely while following CDC guidelines.

It is devastating that Mount Saint Mary's University cannot even provide a sit down commencement for the Class of 2021. As the students had to learn how to adapt to uncertainties while balancing online school and even working throughout the pandemic the least the students of MSMU deserve is a formal ceremony. As a university that prides itself in empowering women and valuing community; the Class of 2021 would like to ask the university to re-arrange our graduation to be a sit down ceremony rather than a drive thru. In times we are in now, a formal graduation will create a sign of hope and a way for families to honor their graduates for achieving this milestone in their life.