SPRINGFIELD – Flocks of students dressed in red scattered throughout Western New England University’s (WNE) common holding vibrant signs and playing commencement music in the afternoon on March 29 to speak out in the hopes of having an in-person commencement.

In the week prior to the demonstration, Vice President of Enrollment Management and Marketing, Bryan Gross, said they were reevaluating the decision regarding virtual commencement.

Effective on Mar. 22, Gov. Charlie Baker increased outdoor gatherings to 150 people. With this, the WNE administration promised to take new circumstances into play and update 2021 graduates within the week.

Following this phase IV re-opening plan, Gross sent out an email to University faculty, staff and students on Mar. 25, reading, “Given all that we know, the University has decided to continue to move forward with the virtual commencement we have been planning for you.”

He went on to state,”We are confident that this is the safest and highest quality experience we can offer. We stand behind this decision without reservation based on the unique circumstances of our campus, our values, and the facts we have carefully explored. We will not and cannot be influenced by decisions other high schools and colleges make, both inside and outside the state, as their values and circumstances are unique to them.”

Many local colleges and universities are planning to host an in-person commencement. Neighboring Springfield College is planning to host a virtual opening celebration on May 14, which will be followed by eight separate ceremonies over the weekend of May 15-16 at Stagg Field on the Springfield College main campus. At nearby UMass Amherst, commencement is set to take place on May 14 and will take the form of four smaller and shorter ceremonies in McGuirk Alumni Stadium. Their celebration will be limited to graduates only, with no guests allowed.

Over 100 seniors participated in a group chat that was created by WNE student leaders to plan a peaceful protest that they hoped would make administrators understand their frustration with the decision to not host an in-person graduation. Within the group chat, students shared the letters that they penned to send to the University President and administration.

When WNE administration received word of the protest and received emails from students and their families, President Dr. Robert Johnson responded to some student leaders stating, “I recognize that the constantly changing landscape and frequent hard decisions that this COVID-19 crisis causes can result in you feeling a lack of trust in the University’s Administration.”

He went on to add, “I appreciate that it seems particularly incongruent that we hold face-to-face classes, yet we have decided not to hold live and in-person graduation ceremonies. This exceedingly difficult decision centered on the main difference between the two experiences, which is that commencement involves large gatherings of hundreds if not thousands of people, which the CDC pointedly recommends against.”

Johnson and selected staff, including Vice President for Student Affairs Kerri Jarzabski, asked these identified student leaders to meet before the protest. In the meeting, students presented their ideas and concerns regarding commencement along with the struggles students have faced this past year. Some ideas that students shared included splitting undergraduate and graduate student ceremonies into multiple days, to only allow students and necessary staff be at commencement and to segment graduation into different slots to maintain occupancy limits, having the university host a webinar for those who wish to be at home and/or not walk in person.

Students said Johnson was open to their proposed graduation plans that would allow for an on-ground celebration.

During the socially distanced protest, both students and administration listened to those who voiced their opinions and feelings. Graduating seniors expressed their love for the university that many call home. They claimed the four year long haul is all worth it when walking across the stage and receiving their diplomas.

After the speakers finished, students were encouraged by student leaders to remain in the center of campus to parade their signs, and were given the opportunity to ask questions to the administration present.

Additional meetings are set to take place in regard to a commencement re-evaluation.