QU’s class of 2021 is walking across a stage, but the class before it gets a drive-by ceremony

Quinnipiac’s class of 2021 will walk across the stage during commencement, while 2020 graduates will have a chance to revisit the campus and have their graduation the following weekend, the university provost announced Tuesday. 

From shifting courses to online late into the spring 2020 semester to the campus shutdown in the fall of 2020 due to a university wide red alert status, it has been an unconventional year. But while students will be able to walk this year in person, guests will be limited to viewing the commencement virtually, and that decision provoked mixed reactions from students. 

Student Planning Board President and senior public relations major Tyler McNeil agrees with how commencement will take place. 

“I personally am a fan of the plan that they published,” McNeil said. “I think it is a smart move. I think the main priority is having students walk for this ceremony. With many students asking if there would be a graduation, Quinnipiac took a big step forward in establishing a plan for students.”

McNeil added that although the graduation plan is not ideal for students who wanted to have family see them graduate in-person, it takes into account the safety measures needed to keep anyone from being exposed to COVID-19. 

The exclusion of parents from graduation has been a letdown for students who have been looking forward to having their families at the ceremony. However, some parents think that it may be for the best.

“I was definitely disappointed to find out that we will not be in-person but I understand the decision by the school to make something out of nothing,” said Alison Capristo, mother of two Quinnipiac students. 

The news has some Quinnipiac students eager for an in-person graduation, like senior economics and finance double-major Justin Ellis.

“I was excited to know that we’ll be able to have a graduation even if guests have to attend virtually,” Ellis said.

Students were surprised to learn that the commencement dates have changed from May 15 through May 16 for 2021 graduates to May 7 through May 10. The class of 2020 has been pushed back to the original May 15 through May 16 dates.

“It would have been nice to get an advanced notice of the date change rather than me finding out from the SGA Instagram story,” Ellis said. 

The decision to push up the date due to COVID-19 concerns has rubbed some students the wrong way. Senior English major Matt Forcino expressed his frustration with the change of dates. 

“The decision to move 2021 graduation up and add the 2020 commencement was a huge misstep,” Forcino said. “Class of 2020 doesn’t care when their graduation is anymore so why mess with 2021’s graduation dates?”

At the same time, Quinnipiac announced its plans for a graduation ceremony for the class of 2020, who haven’t had an opportunity to celebrate their graduation quite yet. Class of 2020 students were quick to voice their disapproval with Quinnipiac’s decision, many already taking to social media platforms like Instagram and Facebook to voice their thoughts on the 2021 commencement plan. Graduates commented that the plans were a “disgrace” and “garbage.” 

The news of the commencement happening on the new dates has families making travel plans but now that will not happen.

“A lot of people have definitely booked hotels in the hopes of seeing their kid graduate but now it’s thrown people’s schedules into a tizzy,”  Forcino said.