MADISON BLASZ
Special to The Leader
Commencement has always been the high point of the academic year, the time when Fredonia formally recognizes and congratulates its graduates for years of hard work and achievement.
As the spring semester comes to a close, students who will be graduating in May are coming to terms with Fredonia’s decision to hold a virtual commencement as a result of the coronavirus pandemic.
When talking about the virtual commencement, Kelsey Callea, a communication disorders and science major and senior, said, “I am very excited about the thought of taking the next step of my life, but I am also upset that it is not going to be everything I thought it would be.”
Ever since Callea was in high school, she always imagined her college graduation, and walking across the stage with her family and friends there to watch her.
“It just sucks that it is going to be different this year, but I am glad that our school is trying to accommodate everyone’s needs and following safety protocols,” said Callea.
“I have mixed feelings about the whole thing because I feel robbed, I understand the circumstances and have accepted that this is how it is, but it’s still very difficult to deal with,” said Gabby Mohan, senior childhood education major.
For Mohan and likely many others who planned a large celebration involving friends and proud loved ones, graduating from college online is something that will always hold a dark spot in their highlight reel.
“It was extremely sad and disappointing, and I honestly will just try to forget about it,” said Mohan.
Graduating from SUNY Fredonia is an accomplishment that evokes joy, celebration and cherished memories.
It’s walking on stage, seeing your name on an extremely valuable piece of paper and throwing your cap into the air that makes graduation so special, but are all students planning to walk the stage for the commencement video?
Senior Zachary Crandall, practices in entrepreneurship said, “After a heavy debate I am personally not taking part in walking across a stage with no one there.”
“It just isn’t the same and I believe it is a cop out to a simpler solution.”
Crandall made it clear that he personally thinks that the university as a whole is doing the bare minimum to make seniors feel special.
There are many universities that are doing outdoor graduations, including the University at Buffalo.
UB plans to safely hold in-person, outdoor commencement ceremonies to honor students graduating from UB this academic year.
“I feel that after last year of having no graduation, I believe the school had an unreal amount of time to plan for an outdoor graduation like other universities did. Though with the lack of effort they chose the easy way out by having a virtual graduation for the second year in a row,” said Crandall.
Clearly, many students across the board did not expect this to happen. Many seniors felt that a large part of their long-anticipated celebration was stolen from them, as the COVID-19 situation has furloughed plans for just about everyone at this point.