The Student Government Association revealed that St. Bonaventure University will move the class of 2020’s graduation date up one day. The ceremony will now take place on Saturday instead of Sunday, which is when it has been celebrated historically.
The university switched the date because of a conflict with the university president’s schedule. Dr. Dennis DePerro wanted to ensure that he was present for the graduation of the class of 2020, so in order to accommodate this, the Academic Standards Committee chose to move the date forward.
According to Geoffrey Broadbent, SGA Executive Board President, this change is one that will affect students unfavorably. He said that he voted “no” on the motion to change the class of 2020’s graduation date when it reached the Faculty Senate on Friday, Oct. 26. Broadbent serves as the voice of the student body on the Faculty Senate.
According to Theresa Rabbia, treasurer of the class of 2020 and a member of the Academic Standards Committee, changing her class’ graduation date will create issues with Senior Week, which students look forward to each year.
According to Broadbent, the current academic schedule puts two exam blocks on Thursday, and students would then graduate on Saturday.
Rabbia said moving graduation up is “shortening [senior week] by a full day. The past year, it’s already been shortened an extra day… this affects us because… we really value our time here, and we want as much time as possible to enjoy our last moments here.”
Broadbent said shortening senior week would force events to be tightly packed and he believes moving the date up will decrease attendance at events, namely the Candlelight Ceremony, a St. Bonaventure tradition.
Rabbia said she is concerned about the plausibility of holding graduation on Saturday.
“The plan is to do Baccalaureate Mass on Saturday morning, and then graduation would be on Saturday afternoon,” said Rabbia.
However, both Broadbent and Rabbia noted that students are expected to be completely moved out of any St. Bonaventure residence halls they occupy by Saturday, which makes it difficult to attend Senior Week events, Baccalaureate Mass and still move out in time.
Katie O’Brien, vice president of Student Affairs, said that a later move out date is unlikely to be approved. She said in previous years “property damage was so astronomical that it was kind of crazy.”
The Faculty Senate and the Academic Standards Committee will also vote on a motion to permanently move graduation to Saturday instead of Sunday. Broadbent said many faculty are in favor because, “there has historically been a dislike of having graduation on Mother’s Day… Faculty have to give up their Mother’s Day almost every year.”
Rabbia, however, noted the ASC looked into the graduation dates for the next few years, none of which fall on Mother’s Day.
The Faculty Senate intended to vote upon this issue on Friday, Oct. 26, but Broadbent requested that the vote be postponed because it affects students so heavily.
The second motion will be further discussed in SGA, and once a recommendation is collectively culminated, Broadbent will pass the recommendation along to the Faculty Senate during the vote.
By Meghan Hall, News Assignment Editor
hallml18@bonaventure.edu
