In recent weeks, universities across the country have been grappling with the impact of student protests on their commencement ceremonies. USC made headlines when it announced the cancellation of its main commencement ceremony due to safety concerns related to ongoing student protests on campus. This decision has left many graduating students disappointed and uncertain about how they will celebrate their achievements.
Meanwhile, students at Columbia University in New York are also on edge as anti-war demonstrations recently led to arrests on campus. There is a growing fear among students that their own commencement could be disrupted by protests, similar to what happened at USC.
Despite these concerns, many schools have remained silent on whether they will adjust or cancel their ceremonies in light of the protests. Some students worry that a domino effect could occur, mirroring the encampment protests at Columbia.
The disruptions caused by protests come as another blow to graduating college students, who have already faced challenges with their high school commencements being affected by the pandemic. The protests have resulted in hundreds of arrests at USC and Columbia, leading to the cancellations of keynote speakers and honorary degrees.
Nevertheless, USC has stated that they will still hold individual school commencement ceremonies with added activities and celebrations to make up for the cancelled main ceremony. Columbia is focused on keeping the campus community safe and secure while planning their commencement events.
University of Michigan officials have implied that protests and graduations can coexist peacefully, with designated protest areas outside venues. Similarly, Yale University is planning commencement celebrations with security in mind while allowing protests to take place outside venues.
Amidst the challenges and uncertainties, students are working to find a meaningful way to celebrate their achievements amidst difficult circumstances, drawing parallels to the resilience shown in 2020 during the pandemic. Some students at Columbia have expressed concerns about growing animosity on campus, particularly towards Jewish students.
As the situation continues to develop, graduating students are left hoping for a peaceful and celebratory end to their academic journeys despite the disruptions caused by protests.
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