As a response to COVID-19, some colleges and universities across the country have canceled their graduation ceremonies entirely. Skidmore College, however, officially announced in a community-wide email on March 31 that while commencement will not be traditional in nature, something to celebrate the seniors and their respective accomplishments will occur. The vagueness of this update, accompanied by a rather unprecedented situation, has left many students wondering what a reimagined commencement will look like.
Much is up in the air right now, both with graduation and the livelihood of many Skidmore students, and this issue of postponement may seem quite trivial in the grand scheme of things. But the commencement ceremony, along with the events leading up to it, symbolizes the end of a formative four-year journey for the Class of 2020.
“It is a milestone, I think it’s such an important part of adulthood, it’s basically like us [seniors] turning a page and transitioning into a different life and having graduation is celebrating...the family that we’ve created, the hard work we have put in,” Vice President for Student Life Dana Tohme ’20 said.
For students working on commencement, the main issue of discussion has been how to find a solution that would work for all students, especially those who live far away from campus and abroad, or who cannot financially afford to return. “It’s going to affect people disproportionately,” Tohme explained, further reiterating: “especially international students that do not live here.”
“Obviously we have one victory which is that we’ve been promised graduation,” explains Liza Pennington ‘20, a student who had spoken out after President Glotzbach’s initial email. “The concern now is more how are we going to make this equitable and a ceremony that seniors can actually come to. I think a lot of our class doesn’t have an interest in walking if we’re not all there.”
“The school would have to think seriously about setting up funds in different places allocated towards student travel or housing,” she explained.
The issue now is balancing planning a new event, all while not entirely knowing when the current pandemic will be over, or what the regulations for social gatherings will be like even once it does.
As of the publication of this article, the commencement planning committee has not officially met, but Jinan Al-Busaidi ‘20, Senior Class President and committee member, says that “For me personally, and what I’ve heard from a lot of seniors, is that they do want something to go to, where their families can see them graduate.”
Al-Busaidi may not be able to make graduation depending on where she is once everything settles down. When considering this possibility, she said, “I would never want myself to feel uncelebrated during the commencement ceremony. I don’t know how exactly to go about this situation, but I hope that with the rest of the planning committee we can come up with a few things to at least make sure students feel appreciated.”
Al-Busaidi will also be meeting with Tory Atkins, Assistant Director of office of leadership activities, and the senior class council soon to brainstorm possible alternatives to a senior week that will happen when classes are finished. While she’s not sure if it will work out, she hopes there will be “something to celebrate students after finals week.”
Nonetheless, not much has been decided right now, and the plausibility of a plan being finalized soon, and then shared with the senior class, seems a bit bleak. The structure of the planning committee itself is unknown at the moment. Al-Busaidi shared that she is keeping a list of students who have reached out to ask if they can become involved with the committee. “As soon as I know if students are able to join,” she said, “then I’ll send an email out to the whole senior class.”
Amanda Peckler ’20 said that while she will most likely be able to make a postponed graduation, being a resident of New York State, she has concerns regarding the fairness of the current situation. “I mainly am sad for my international friends and people who live too far away within the U.S. to come back. I know it's the situation we're in, but it feels so unfair,” she explained.
Sarah Maacha ’20 from Morocco echoed similar sentiments: “[Commencement] being postponed feels like that’s better than being canceled.” However, she continued to say, “Personally, my mom, dad, and brother were trying to come for graduation...that’s three different schedules and timelines that need to adjust to that, and I do not know if I will be in the United States or back home in Morocco.”
There are many questions awaiting answers before any plans can be made on an individual level, Maacha concluded. “I think we need more answers about what graduation postponed really means,” she said.
What’s most important at the moment is ensuring the safety and wellbeing of Skidmore students, faculty, staff, and their respective families. Nonetheless, a traditional commencement is something students expect to happen, and the reality of having it ripped away has been shocking for many. While community members continue to protect themselves, there is also a group of students and staff working to invent a new, and hopefully satisfactory, graduation event.
“I feel like this has brought the class together and we are supporting each other as best as we can,” Pennington said. “Little things like that really help in the day-to-day. I know how hard we’ve all worked and how much we’ve grown, and it just feels impossible to not have that recognition.”