On the 21st May, Newcastle University sent out an email stating that final year students will receive an online graduation and the possibility of an on-campus graduation ceremony.

This seems categorically unfair to deny a whole cohort of graduates the on-campus graduation they have been promised and excited for for the entirety of their three years at Newcastle University. This year group have been affected by two waves of strikes (2018,2019 and 2020) as well as the recent disruption and distress of the COVID-19 pandemic. 

The insensitivity of the email is appalling. The email arrived to students in the middle of an already very stressful and extraordinary exam period without the slightest hint of understanding of how much of an emotive issue graduation is for students.

We do not wish to sound unreasonable and unrealistic. We understand that at this moment setting an exact date is impossible.Therefore what we seek is a firm commitment from Newcastle University to grant us, the graduates of 2020, the graduation ceremony we deserve, rather than the vague aspiration to holding one.