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Poor Planning Blamed For Cancelation Of Howard University Graduation

Poor Planning Blamed For Cancelation Of Howard University Graduation

In a chaotic turn of events, a graduation ceremony for nursing students at Howard University in Washington D.C. was cut short due to capacity issues, leaving parents and students frustrated and disappointed. The ceremony, which took place on Thursday, June 3rd, was abruptly canceled during the keynote address, as angry parents who were unable to enter the venue resorted to pounding on doors and even breaking a window.

According to witnesses, tensions began to flare as early as the beginning of the ceremony, with large crowds of relatives eagerly awaiting the chance to see their loved ones walk across the stage. However, it became clear that the venue was not large enough to accommodate all of the attendees, leading to chaotic scenes both inside and outside the auditorium.

In video footage captured by onlookers, dozens of people can be seen standing outside the Cramton Auditorium, chanting “Let us in! Let us in!” in a desperate attempt to join the ceremony. The situation escalated when some families attempted to push past security and enter the building, resulting in a shattered glass door and at least one injury.

For many students, this was a heartbreaking turn of events, as they had already missed out on their high school graduations in 2020 due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Some expressed their confusion and disappointment, wondering how the situation had deteriorated so quickly.

The situation took a tense turn when school officials announced mid-ceremony that the fire department had been called to shut down the event due to safety concerns. In a statement that elicited boos from the crowd, Dr. Gina S. Brown, the dean of the College of Nursing and Allied Health Sciences, blamed both the size of the venue and the behavior of some relatives for the shutdown.

However, the D.C. Fire and EMS department later released a statement denying that they had shut down the ceremony, clarifying that they had only responded to a medical call and left the scene shortly after.

This incident has raised questions about the planning and organization of the graduation ceremony, with some pointing out that outdoor ceremonies or taking reservations could have prevented this unfortunate outcome. While it is understandable that the school would want to hold the ceremony indoors, due to unpredictable weather and the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic, it is clear that better preparations could have been made.

Although it is never acceptable to resort to rioting and violence, it is understandable that families who had traveled from across the country to witness this milestone event were upset and frustrated by the turn of events. This serves as a reminder for educational institutions to prioritize effective planning and communication to avoid disappointing students and their families.

It is unknown at this time what actions, if any, will be taken by the administration of Howard University in response to the incident. However, it is clear that some changes need to be made to prevent similar situations from occurring in the future.

Overall, this graduation ceremony at Howard University was marred by chaos and disappointment, leaving many students and their families with a less-than-memorable experience. The cancellation of the event highlights the need for effective planning and communication to ensure the smooth execution of important occasions such as graduations. As for the students who were unable to walk across the stage and receive their hard-earned degrees, we can only hope that they will be able to celebrate their achievements in a more satisfactory setting.

Written by Mark Stevens - May 13, 2024