The Northwestern University Class of 2020 students were recently notified of the decision to move commencement online.  While we understand the severity of the pandemic and the reasons for which commencement was moved to a virtual platform, we do not understand why there was no mention of an in person commencement to be held at a later date.  Elite institutions, such as Stanford and Dartmouth, have both made the choice to hold their ceremonies online, but promised students an in-person graduation ceremony at a later date. Even our fellow Chicago-land institution, Loyola University, has guaranteed students an in-person commencement ceremony.  With less than 60 days to commencement, the class of 2020 has worked extremely hard to get to where we are now.  We are writing and signing this petition to urge the president, Morty Schapiro, and the board of Northwestern to commit to an in person commencement at a later date.  We are only asking for the same promise that other institutions have granted their seniors.