“Just send me my degree so I can move on,” students have mixed feelings after AU graduation announcement

By Michael Karlis

After weeks of uncertainty, AU announced that seniors and 2020 graduates will have the option to attend an in-person graduation ceremony at Bender Arena with strict COVID-19 precautions, garnering mixed reactions from students. 

 “AU has done a terrible job handling COVID and has truly screwed over many of the students,” SIS senior Chris Hastrup said. “At this point, just send me my degree so I can move on.”

 Eligible students can sign up for a 15-minute time slot where they can walk across the stage, grab their diploma, and get a photo with Clawed, according to an email sent on Wednesday. If they don’t feel like it, graduating seniors can watch their names be called on a virtual commencement over zoom.  The ceremony is for students only, a silly policy according to SPA senior David Rich. 

 “As long as people have had a vaccine, I would say that they can attend an in-person graduation,” Rich said. “I think a vaccine equals a ticket back to normalcy, back to pre-pandemic life. I’m upset the DC city government can’t see that.”

 Former AUSG Senator and SPA senior Wayne Rodriguez is also upset that family members can’t attend but respects the city’s decision. 

“It’s the thought of not being around my peers, not being able to throw my cap in the air,” Rodriguez said. “It’s the small things that make the biggest moments.”

AU’s decision came two days after school administrators sent a proposal for an in-person ceremony to the Mayor’s office. The school initially said that a final decision would be made the second week of April in an email sent on March 10. 

“From what I’ve heard, a lot of people have already made plans to go on vacations and stuff,” SIS senior Alyssa Cordero said. “It’s easy for me to get to DC,” said the New Jersey native, “but I understand where the frustration comes from for those who don’t have the means to make plans on such short notice.”

Some members of 2020’s class don’t have vacation plans but are busy working and adulting, like Army Ranger Ian Heald, who graduated last spring. 

“I wish I could live with AU’s original promise of having something last fall,” Heald said, “but a year later, my life has moved on, and I feel apathy toward AU.” 

Heald added that he feels AU’s decision “feels cheap” because AU announced its graduation plans after Georgetown and Catholic University. Both of which are planning on having outdoor ceremonies. 

“If an outdoor ceremony with masks works now, it could’ve worked last May,” Heald said, citing that the national daily infection rates are higher now than they were last spring. 

Raj Dhage, who graduated last fall, may attend the in-person ceremony, but only because he has nothing better to do. 

“I’m here and have nothing to do, so I think I will,” Dhage said. “I’m not buying a cap and gown, though.” 

Still, graduating Senior Elise Sprouls is excited regardless of the COVID-19 restrictions and timing of AU’s decision. 

“It’s a bit of a bummer that my family can’t see me walk across the stage in person, but at least I don’t have to sit through a really long ceremony,” Sprouls said. 

The class of 2021 will celebrate their graduation on May 8th and 9th, while those who graduated last year will have an optional in-person ceremony on May 15th and 16th. To attend, eligible students must register online via a link sent to their school email accounts. 

“We’re all exhausted; this is the least the university could do for us as seniors,” Rodriguez said.

A previous version of this article incorrectly wrote that GW was having in-person graduation. The author meant Georgetown.