The faculty at the University of Nevada Las Vegas have unilaterally decided to abandon their plans for an in-person graduation ceremony for this spring 2021 semester. This decision comes after charging hefty graduation fees to thousands of graduating students, of which the university has no intentions of returning. According to the announcement, which comes over two entire months before the actual date of the ceremony, the university's reason for committing to this decision is out of concern for the health of their student body. However, this clearly cannot be the case given that UNLV has actively pursued everything in its power to assure that the university's sporting events remained open to the public since the latter half of 2020. To put it simply, if UNLV can hold sporting events then it can hold an in-person graduation ceremony and clearly has zero ground to cancel such a ceremony in the name of student health. Additionally, given that Governor Steve Sisolak has displayed a consistent pattern of gradually easing Covid-19 restrictions across the state of Nevada, it is entirely reasonable to suggest that UNLV will be able to hold a graduation ceremony that is both safe and compliant by May15th of this year. Concurrently, the state of Nevada is also reporting record low amounts of Covid-19 cases every single day as well as record high vaccination rates. In other words, it is entirely realistic for the university to hold a safe in-person graduation ceremony. Furthermore, and most insultingly, this announcement comes after eleven months of faculty emails that frequently commended the student body for their dedication to furthering their education amidst the Covid-19 pandemic. Yet when UNLV is finally presented with an opportunity to actually commend their students they fail miserably and without effort. All evidence suggests that UNLV's words do not match their actions and therefore their decision will not be taken seriously by members of the student body or the Las Vegas community.

     That being established, this petition's goal is to convince the faculty of UNLV to offer at least one form of in-person graduation ceremony for this spring's graduating class. This petition acknowledges that Covid-19 is a genuine concern that needs to be properly addressed, but also recognizes that this is not an impossible goal. The following list is a series of suggestions made by current students and members of the alumni community alike that would allow for some form of an in-person graduation ceremony while also remaining compliant with Nevada's Covid-19 regulations. 

     1) Offer an optional in-person graduation ceremony as well as a virtual ceremony. This solution allows those students with concerns for their health to remain safe at a separate virtual ceremony while also allowing students to attend an in-person ceremony should they choose to do so. Not only would this in-person ceremony abide by all standard Covid-19 regulations, but supporters of this petition are willing to compromise even further and agree to limits on a maximum amount of guests per graduate or even require that waivers be signed before attending the ceremony if the university sees fit. If the faculty at UNLV is concerned about proper social distancing regulations within the default Thomas and Mack Center, please be aware that supporters of this petition are willing to pay reasonably additional fees to relocate the ceremony into a larger venue such as the Allegiant Stadium or T-Mobile Arena. Providing this option will allow graduating students to have a choice in one of the most important moments of their lives, as opposed to the university simply forcing this decision on thousands of graduating seniors without a say. 

     2) A series of smaller in-person graduation ceremonies that are divided by specific colleges. This solution would greatly reduce the amount of students and spectators attending each ceremony, therefore making it entirely feasible for each ceremony to remain Covid-19 compliant and safe for all those who attend. Under this option, each ceremony will be significantly shorter than a traditional ceremony, therefore further mitigating any potential risk to attendees. Every additional provision established in the above recommendation remains applicable to this option as well.  

     3) Convert the on-campus field into a Covid-19 compliant graduation ceremony. This solution utilizes the massive open field on UNLV's campus to create an environment that is spacious enough for all to attend while also remaining socially distanced. Given that UNLV has kept the graduation fee it charged to each graduating senior, the university should have no issue in being able to install the proper equipment for such a ceremony. Additionally, the weather in mid-May will be perfect for an outdoor ceremony. 

     The class of 2021 has lost their senior year to the Covid-19 pandemic without saying a word of opposition, but now that the pandemic is entering its final stages it is time for us to take a stand for one of the most important moments of our lives. Please sign this petition in support of the thousands of graduating students who have already lost so much to Covid-19, but refuse to lose any more. Thank you.