Graphic by Joshua Doering.
JOSHUA DOERING | DIGITAL MANAGING EDITOR | jdoering@butler.edu
On March 17, Butler University President James Danko announced classes would be online for the rest of the semester and spring commencement was canceled. Butler seniors took to social media to react to not having a traditional graduation ceremony at the end of the semester.
https://twitter.com/emma_laux/status/1239994646446714887
Butler can’t take away graduation. I’ve waited my whole life to have my parents (who graduated from Butler) see me walk across the stage in Hinkle to graduate. It’s a milestone in my life that I will never forget. This is not how I expected things to go. @butleru
— Hailey (@haileyhammons) March 17, 2020
https://twitter.com/ru_mble/status/1240681651933413376
https://twitter.com/falafelcharlie/status/1240732786824077312
Some reflected on their time at Butler and what it meant to them.
https://twitter.com/mohsinw_/status/1239974717508816898
Others sought to spread positivity and encouragement to their fellow seniors.
Butler Blue III, who was scheduled to retire after commencement, penned a letter to the class of 2020.
An Open Letter to the Butler Class of 2020:
This isn’t how things were supposed to go for us. We were supposed to be riding high these last few weeks of the semester and enjoying our final days on campus together.
I was so looking forward to graduating with all of you. pic.twitter.com/BYzQhyPyyT
— Butler Blue III (@ButlerBlue3) March 17, 2020
Butler is in the process of exploring different ways to celebrate the accomplishment, including a virtual gathering and a ceremony at a later date.
UPDATE:
While the May commencement ceremony will not happen as originally planned, there are a number of alternative options, which could include holding a traditional ceremony at a later date, gathering virtually, etc.
— Butler University (@butleru) March 17, 2020
All indications are that Butler’s class of 2020 will gather — be it in person or virtually — one more time to celebrate their graduation at some point. It just won’t be the way anyone envisioned.
