Catherine Rusoff
NEW YORK – Columbia University said Monday it is canceling its main commencement ceremony after weeks of protests It is campus turmoil.
Instead of a single graduation ceremony, the different schools involved will hold smaller, individual ceremonies. They will take place far from South Lawn, where the larger graduation ceremony was originally scheduled to take place on May 15, and where students were camped out. until the police released them.
A university official said security concerns were one of the main reasons behind the school’s decision.
The university said that despite the changes, students will get the celebration they want, and the revised plan is the result of conversations with students about what type of program they prefer.
“We are determined to give our students the celebration they deserve and want,” Columbia said in a statement. “Based on their feedback, we decided to make the centerpiece of our commencement activities, our class days and school-level ceremonies, where students are honored individually alongside their peers, rather than the university-wide ceremony scheduled for May 15th.”
Most school graduation ceremonies will now take place at the schools’ Baker Athletics Complex. Tickets are mandatory.
“Our students have emphasized that these smaller-scale school celebrations are more meaningful to them and their families. They look forward to walking across the stage to applause and family pride and hearing from their school’s guest speakers. As a result, we will focus our resources on these school ceremonies and to keep them safe, respectful and running smoothly. A major effort is already underway to achieve this goal, and we understand that deans and school teams are eager to work with their students to incorporate the most creative and creative ideas. significant moments to celebrate this extraordinary moment”, stated the university.
Check out the new ceremony schedule:
Friday, May 10th
• 8:30am – Professional Studies, Morning Ceremony | Baker Athletics Complex
• 12:30pm – Professional Studies, Afternoon Ceremony | Baker Athletics Complex
• 4:30 pm – Social Services | Baker Athletics Complex
• 5:30 pm – Columbia Climate School | The Forum
Saturday, May 11
• 8:00 am – Business School, EMBA and PhD candidates | Baker Athletics Complex
• 11:30 am – Business School, MBA | Baker Athletics Complex
• Architecture, Planning and Preservation | St. Paul’s Chapel
Sunday, May 12th
• 8:00 am – Postgraduate in Arts and Sciences, Doctorate | Baker Athletics Complex
• 10:00 am – Bachelor’s Degree Service | St. Paul’s Chapel
• 11:00 am – School of Arts and Sciences, MA | Baker Athletics Complex
• 3:00 pm – Fu Foundation School of Engineering and Applied Sciences, Graduation Ceremony | Baker Athletics Complex
Monday, May 13th
• 8:00 am – Columbia School of General Studies | Baker Athletics Complex
• 11:45 am – Fu Foundation School of Engineering and Applied Sciences, Graduation Ceremony | Baker Athletics Complex
• 3:30 pm – Faculty of Law | Baker Athletics Complex
• 7:30 pm – International and Public Affairs | Baker Athletics Complex
Tuesday, May 14th
• 9:30 am – Columbia College | Baker Athletics Complex
• 10:00 am – Nursing School | The Arsenal
• 10am – Physiotherapy | Alumni Auditorium, CUIMC
• 3:30 pm – Genetic Counseling | VEC 201, CUIMC
• 4pm – Mailman School of Public Health | The Arsenal
• 5:00 pm – Business School, MS | David Geffen Hall, Manhattanville campus
• College of Teachers | United Palace Theater
Wednesday, May 15
• 12pm – School of Journalism | Roone Arledge Auditorium, Lerner Hall
• 2pm – College of Doctors and Surgeons of Vagelos | The Arsenal
• 4pm – Barnard College | Radio City Auditorium
• 7pm – School of Arts | Roone Arledge Auditorium, Lerner Hall
• College of Teachers | United Palace Theater
Thursday, May 16th
• 10am – Occupational Therapy | Alumni Auditorium, CUIMC
• 10:30 am – Dental Medicine, Pre-Doctorate | The Arsenal
• 2:00 pm – Institute of Human Nutrition | Alumni Auditorium, CUIMC
• 4:00 pm – Dental Medicine, Post-Doctorate | The Arsenal
