On Monday March 16th, St. John's University announced that it would extend the suspension of in-class instruction from March 27th to the end of the semester. In the school president's announcement of this, it was stated that "all University in-person events are cancelled for the remainder of the spring semester". Many wonder what this means for the graduation ceremony that is supposed to take place in late May. In the president's announcement of all this, the 2020 Commencement activities and events were mentioned, and were said to possibly be "prohibited" from happening in-person due to the coronavirus situation. The University is said to announce plans within the next coming weeks. With such a statement, many are left fearing for the cancellation of the ceremony.

With these activities just two months away, we need to enact change as soon as we can. Commencement is the physical crowning achievement for many students. Seniors such as myself have not only worked four years for this, but have worked our whole lives for this. For many people they are among the first in their families to receive four-year degrees or complete college in general. Walking the stage is the final moment in our undergraduate lives before we start our careers or graduate school. We are able to wear our regalia showing what we've worked for, make final college memories with friends, and make our parents and families proud by seeing what we've been able to achieve. 

Some professors have stated the possibility of a virtual graduation - how could this ever replace the physical ceremony where sheer excitement and relief are palpable in the air? Commencement is not something that we can log into and view from a screen. This could never replace something people wait their whole lives for. Would hearing your name be said by someone through your laptop compare to having it announced over a microphone for thousands to hear while you walk the stage like so many before you have done? Imagine not being able to have your cap, gown, and sorortity/fraternity stoles or honors cords or another form of regalia. How could we accept a replacement that takes all these things away?

Though the future is in an unpredictable state, we can still fight for a postponement of the Commencement ceremony. Even if we have to stagger it over the course of hours or days with people spread apart, any sort of physical ceremony will be better than anything virtual. We cannot allow the achievement of a lifetime to be reduced to just another virtual interaction. Having the event in a staggered matter or in August or September or whenever it has to happen will be better than anything else. We have to fight for this and show the school it matters that much to us. We've put in too much to deserve just a virtual ceremony.

Please help bring light to this matter for our seniors at St. John's by signing this petition!