Horned Toad
Active Member
I just received an email from Chancellor Boschini stating that TCU was canceling graduation ceremonies that were scduled in August due to worsening pandemic.
July 6, 2020
Dear Horned Frog Graduates & Families,
We are extraordinarily proud of you, your resilience, positivity and dedication over these past few world-changing months. Today, I write to share news about Commencement plans. I am extremely saddened to say that based on the resurgence of the virus across the country and following consultation with our local health authorities, we are unable to host the Senior Toast and the Commencement ceremonies planned for August 7and August 8, 2020. We are crushed, but must make the responsible decision for our campus community. This video message summarizes my thoughts. More information may also be found online at commencement.tcu.edu.
Graduates, you have achieved so much, and managed adversity with grace.
Parents and families, you have supported and cheered your Horned Frogs on to their status as proud Texas Christian University graduates. We thank you.
Your faculty and staff still plan to celebrate you appropriately when it is safe to do so. Until that time, we are proud to welcome you to a larger community of successful and ethical leaders we call alumni.
Sincerely,
Victor J. Boschini, Jr.
Chancellor
My response is below:
Chancellor Boschini,
I’m sure this will be just one of many responses that you’ll receive from disappointed graduates and their parents. I have to voice my frustration with you for canceling the graduation ceremonies for the 2020 class. My wife and I have been waiting 22 years for this day only to have it once again snatched out from under us. We understand the complications that the current pandemic represents but we do not understand how our local Fort Worth high schools with far fewer resources can pull off similar graduation events and yet TCU is unable to do the same with far better facilities. It’s like being handed a sparkler as a stand-in for a grand fireworks show.
Why cannot TCU hold the event at ACS over the course of several evenings if necessary and follow the pandemic protocols of social distancing. There’s more than enough room in the stadium for 2,000 graduates and their families to spread out and keep things safe. Limit the number of family members and assign sections by cohorts divided by empty rows to enforce distancing. We can all handle the August evening heat to pull this off. This is a once in a lifetime opportunity for these kids and the thrill of crossing the finish line for both them and their families is being snatched away when there is a safe venue located on campus that could provide an extraordinary backdrop to the conclusion of their academic careers. If you don’t hold the event now, then when? Do you think TCU will be more prepared in the winter? That will prove even more problematic as the cold weather will force the event inside. Which is worse, an indoor event which we know is not advised or an outdoor event where everyone could spread out and stay safe? If it’s not safe now, when will it be? It will already be hard enough to get everyone back for graduation in August. If you go past that you’ll have even fewer participants as it will be anti-climatic at any later date as new jobs and careers will have already begun.
I am requesting that you reconsider your decision to cancel graduation. Please don’t ruin this important moment for this class and their families and those to come after. TCU has the facilities and the abilities to pull this off.
Sincerely,
July 6, 2020
Dear Horned Frog Graduates & Families,
We are extraordinarily proud of you, your resilience, positivity and dedication over these past few world-changing months. Today, I write to share news about Commencement plans. I am extremely saddened to say that based on the resurgence of the virus across the country and following consultation with our local health authorities, we are unable to host the Senior Toast and the Commencement ceremonies planned for August 7and August 8, 2020. We are crushed, but must make the responsible decision for our campus community. This video message summarizes my thoughts. More information may also be found online at commencement.tcu.edu.
Graduates, you have achieved so much, and managed adversity with grace.
Parents and families, you have supported and cheered your Horned Frogs on to their status as proud Texas Christian University graduates. We thank you.
Your faculty and staff still plan to celebrate you appropriately when it is safe to do so. Until that time, we are proud to welcome you to a larger community of successful and ethical leaders we call alumni.
Sincerely,
Victor J. Boschini, Jr.
Chancellor
My response is below:
Chancellor Boschini,
I’m sure this will be just one of many responses that you’ll receive from disappointed graduates and their parents. I have to voice my frustration with you for canceling the graduation ceremonies for the 2020 class. My wife and I have been waiting 22 years for this day only to have it once again snatched out from under us. We understand the complications that the current pandemic represents but we do not understand how our local Fort Worth high schools with far fewer resources can pull off similar graduation events and yet TCU is unable to do the same with far better facilities. It’s like being handed a sparkler as a stand-in for a grand fireworks show.
Why cannot TCU hold the event at ACS over the course of several evenings if necessary and follow the pandemic protocols of social distancing. There’s more than enough room in the stadium for 2,000 graduates and their families to spread out and keep things safe. Limit the number of family members and assign sections by cohorts divided by empty rows to enforce distancing. We can all handle the August evening heat to pull this off. This is a once in a lifetime opportunity for these kids and the thrill of crossing the finish line for both them and their families is being snatched away when there is a safe venue located on campus that could provide an extraordinary backdrop to the conclusion of their academic careers. If you don’t hold the event now, then when? Do you think TCU will be more prepared in the winter? That will prove even more problematic as the cold weather will force the event inside. Which is worse, an indoor event which we know is not advised or an outdoor event where everyone could spread out and stay safe? If it’s not safe now, when will it be? It will already be hard enough to get everyone back for graduation in August. If you go past that you’ll have even fewer participants as it will be anti-climatic at any later date as new jobs and careers will have already begun.
I am requesting that you reconsider your decision to cancel graduation. Please don’t ruin this important moment for this class and their families and those to come after. TCU has the facilities and the abilities to pull this off.
Sincerely,