The University of Texas at Dallas, by most metrics, is the most expensive public university in the state of Texas, and for good reason. UTD boasts some of the finest undergraduate, graduate, and research programs in the state, being associated with four Nobel Prizes, as well as having members of staff be part of the National Academy of Science and National Academy of Engineering. The Carnegie Foundation has also classified the university as a doctoral research university with "Highest Research Activity"—faster than any other school in Texas.

With all of that in mind, it would stand to reason that students that complete such rigorous programs be properly congratulated upon their completion, right? Unfortunately, many students feel that the current location of graduation is underwhelming: the gym. One could argue that it is the largest indoor location on campus possible for graduation ceremonies, however this irrelevant, as countless high schools in DFW have their graduation ceremonies at large local arenas, the Star in Frisco, and other grandiose locations. Its simply embarrassing to graduate from one of these local high schools, only to be relegated to a dingy gym upon achieving the much bigger accomplishment of a college degree or higher.

Ultimately, we'd like to ask that UTD's administration change the location of graduation ceremonies as soon as Winter 2021 to somewhere more befitting of such an amazing university. We recognize that the closeness of Spring 2021 graduation, as well as the on-going COVID-19 pandemic, makes this kind of change difficult to implement for Spring 2021 graduation, which is why we are asking for Winter 2021 graduation at the very soonest.