Chico State students react to university's decision to hold in-person commencement

Action News Now spoke with university officials at Chico State who described the plans to celebrate last year and this years' graduates safely.

State students who graduated in 2020 will now have the opportunity to walk across the stage - one year later.

New at four -- action news now reporter kristian lopez shows us the plan in the works to celebrate last year and this years' graduates safely.

Kristian: usually the university stadium here at chico state is completely packed with students and families celebrating graduation but this year because of restrictions they will only be allowing graduates to participate in the commencement ceremony.

Julia maldonado/graduating: i was just really grateful that chico state was going to do something for the graduates.

Julia maldonado was shocked to hear she'd get to walk across the stage in person to get her degree.

Julia maldonado: i woke my mom up and said "it's going to be in person, it's going to be in person."

And then i saw that there wasn't gonna be any guests but i wasn't personally too upset.

Stephen cummins/director of public engagement: they will march in and sit and listen to speeches and when the time comes they will cross the stage 6 feet apart, with a mask, be on camera so the people can watch them and march back and be dismissed in an ordinary fashion.

But graduation senior mike johnson tells me he's concerned about the in person celebration.

Mike johnson: i would not be inclined to walk this year because i think it sets a bad example,i don't know if this is a good call, but i also don't wanna rain on the parade of my fellow graduates who are excited to walk this year and are not concerned about the same things i am.

Cummins says any student who isn't comfortable walking can participate virtually.

Stephen cummins:you can go in and watch the slide you created and hear your name virtually and see all the graduates on there.

Julia maldonado/graduating: i just want to say thank you chico state i appreciate and im sure others appreciate what you're doing to make it happen.

Kristian: the university says each ceremony will be limited the ceremony for the class of 2020 will take 2020 will take place on may 16th, and commencement ceremonies for the class of 2021 will begin on may 20th.

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