Over the past four years, the Class of 2021 at Oregon State University has been working very hard to achieve their dreams of graduating from college and walking across the stage to receive their diploma. When the pandemic continued lasting longer than we had thought it would, we held on to the tiny bit of hope that we would still be able to walk at graduation, until those hopes came crashing down when OSU announced that we would only be having a virtual graduation. Although we didn't like the decision, we took it and realized it was the right decision to make at that time -- until now.

The University of Oregon announced in April that they would be holding TWO in-person activities for their graduates to participate in on graduation day. The first is a Grad Parade through the campus which will then be followed by the second activity which is a live-streamed Stage Procession. 

If one university can do it, why can't the other? We have many plans on how we can make this work for the Class of 2021 and the OSU Community. Some include separating graduations by college at different hours of the day, holding everything in Reser Stadium (15% capacity is 6,851 and no college is bigger than 2,700 graduates), only graduates will be allowed at events, family and friends will be able to watch a Livestream. If we can have a spring football game with fans why can't we have in-person graduations? Please sign this petition to help give Oregon State University's Class of 2021 what they deserve, a real graduation!