Recently, NC State released an announcement that they would not only combine Spring and Winter 2020 Commencement, but also make it an online “celebration”. This announcement came less than a month after Governor Roy Cooper declared that stadiums with a capacity larger than 10,000, such as Carter-Finley Stadium, can be at 7% capacity for fans to attend football games. On behalf of the class of 2020, this is unacceptable. 
Carter-Finley Stadium’s capacity is 57,583 people in the stands. With the 7% restriction, we can have 4,030 people at departmental ceremonies. We also have Dail Soccer Field, which has a capacity of 3,000 people, and the Doak, which has a capacity of 2,220 people. If possible, we should utilize these stadiums to give the class of 2020 the commencement they deserve. 
I propose that North Carolina State University holds hybrid departmental commencement ceremonies. We can use Carter-Finley Stadium, if not all three of our stadiums, to expedite the ceremonies as much as possible. At worst, it takes a few days to get through all of the ceremonies. Additionally, masks for both graduates and attendees are required under this proposal. Anyone who is not comfortable with attending commencement in person can partake in the ceremony virtually. PackTV and Wolfpack Sports are both excellent programs that we can reach out to and see if they would be willing to help honor our graduates by livestreaming commencement. 
Many graduates are feeling a heartbreak that no one in the current administration is not able to empathize with. It is not their fault that they do not know what it is like to graduate amidst a global pandemic and in a year as tumultuous as this one. They can, however, take action and work within the parameters of the current restrictions to give the class of 2020 what they have rightfully earned. 

EDIT: 10/22/2020 It has been brought to my attention that it seems as though I want this to happen immediately....that is not the case...many of us have been waiting since May. I am simply asking for options for people to choose from based on their own personal comfort level.