Regent University, along with most schools in Virginia, has decided to hold a virtual 2021 commencement ceremony to honor the graduating class of 2021. Regent University decided due to Governor Ralph Northam's directives and his office's disapproval of in-person or hybrid ceremonies.
The graduating class at Regent University, their families, and friends are not accepting a virtual commencement as an appropriate form of recognition for the 4+ years of hard work put into their degree. As of writing this post, the United States has vaccinated nearly 20% of its population. Another 10% of the population has been recorded as recovered from Covid-19. Cases in Virginia have been declining an average of 3% in the last 14 days. According to the White House, everyone who wants a vaccination will receive one by April. If this is the case, there will be minimal risk in having a socially distanced, sanitized, and limited in-person ceremony in May 2021.
According to Executive Order 72, "The total number of spectators [at Performing arts venues, concert venues, sports venues, convention centers, expos, movie theaters, museums, aquariums, fairs, carnivals, public and private social clubs, botanical gardens, entertainment centers, historic horse racing facilities, bowling alleys, skating rinks, arcades, trampoline parks, arts and craft facilities, escape rooms, amusement parks and zoos] cannot exceed the lesser of 30 percent of the lowest occupancy load on the certificate of occupancy, if applicable, or 250 persons."
I am requesting that Regent University and other schools in Virginia demand that Colleges and Universities be included in this area of the executive order or given similar directives to allow visitors to campuses for a ceremony. The students are not satisfied, and the school is no longer working for them and their families but working for Governor Ralph Northam.
An in-person ceremony will not force all graduates to attend in-person. This will be a decision that the graduate and their family must make. This gives the power to assess the risk to the individuals participating in the event, rather than giving them no choice. Regent University already requires that students sign a liability waiver before returning to campus. This can and should be extended to all attendees.
This petition will be sent to Regent University and the office of Governor Northam to express our unified disapproval and change the virtual commencement ceremonies of 2021.