By LUCIE BURNS
News Editor
Concerned about how the Saint Rose 2024 graduation would unfold, senior Mariah Almquist, took matters into her own hands and created a petition to ban the Board of Trustees and President Marcia White from speaking or even attending commencement. Instead, Almquist suggests, faculty should speak on the students’ behalf and manage the graduation.
The petition has currently obtained 198 signatures since it was created on March 21. Almquist first shared the petition with fellow classmates, then took the cause to social media platforms like Instagram, Snapchat, and Facebook to spread awareness.
The main reason for not wanting the Board of Trustees or the president in attendance is to prevent any disturbance from occurring at what should be a normal celebration honoring the graduates’ achievements.
“I feel like a lot of seniors in particular are really worried about how graduation is going to end up at the end of the semester,” said Almquist. “They’re really concerned that we’re going to get there and a lot of people are just gonna be booing, and it’s going to be a whole thing that’s not about everything that we’ve done in the past four years to get a degree.”
Almquist and other seniors graduated high school in 2020, meaning that the graduating class didn’t get a typical high school graduation ceremony either due to the pandemic, which is a big reason why she thought it would resonate well with her class.
“That’s another thing that a lot of us just want, something normal because we didn’t get anything in 2020,” said Almquist. “I know that that’s a big motivation, a lot of us at least for undergrad are 2020 high school grads.”
Before finalizing the petition, Almquist had to ensure it was worded properly and sent the right message. “We didn’t want it to become an attack on the administration because that’s not the purpose of it, it’s more just that we want graduation to focus on the graduates,” said Almquist.
Almquist, being a political science major at the college, recognizes the importance of being able to make an impact. “A petition allows a group of people that feel as though their voice isn’t heard to collaborate and make their voice heard and present,” said Almquist. “When you just hear people talking here and there and rumors, it can be kind of underwhelming and underplaying how people are feeling, but when you put a number behind how many people are supporting a specific initiative it can really help to rationalize and realize how much support there is.”
The petition and cause have received support from the Saint Rose community, as Almquist has received a lot of people liking it, including some alumni that recently graduated and faculty members. “The faculty that I’ve had communication with also think it’s a good idea, some of them have put money in promoting the petition because they care most about what we want, ” said Almquist.
While Almquist doesn’t want the petition to be an attack on administration, some supporters feel that they are the sole party to blame. “Their decisions cut unique majors, drove away enrollment, and ultimately killed the college of Saint Rose permanently,” said an online supporter as a reason for signing the petition. “The murderers should not return to the funeral of their victim.”
As for next steps, Almquist is waiting to see how the petition’s results develop as graduation gets closer, as a reply from administration has not yet been received. Once the ceremony is closer, a plan will be made on how to continue based on its responses. “If what we want isn’t being heard, then that’s a problem,” said Almquist. To see the petition, scan the QR code below.
