Students upset about virtual commencement ceremony

Graduating seniors at Chico State University have started an online petition against virtual graduations which has more than 8,000 signatures.

Virus.

Chico state's decision to hold a virtual graduation has a lot of students upset.

Action news now reporter kristian lopez is live on campus.

What are those students saying kristian?

I spoke with two students who are the first in their families to go to college.

They tell me it feels like they aren't really graduating& you're looking at video from past commencement ceremonies at chico state.

This year, the school canceled all in person ceremonies because of the coronavirus.

Instead, students can create their own personalized page with their picture and a quote and a description about themselves, which will be shared on a website.

It will also show their degree and any honors they earned.

But many students are upset they weren't consulted.

They started an online petition with more than 8 thousand signatures so far.

It would have been interesting if they had a vote or had people send in ideas or ask their students more it's all happening behind the sidelines and we have no idea : we needed to get the virtual ceremony up as fast as we could to get the contracts in place to make the virtual pages.

We want to look at 2021 for a live commencement.

Cummins says they are aware of the petition but they are sticking to their plan for the time being.

He says they want to be able to celebrate students through this virtual website and again at a future date once social distancing guidelines are lifted.

Cummins tells me they are planning to give the students a say in about next year's commencement.

Live at chico state kristian lopez action news now coverage you can count on.

The virtual graduation ceremony is expected to take place on may 15th.