ASSU Letter to President Gertler re: Cancellation of Spring Convocation
RE: Spring 2020 Convocation Ceremonies
Dear President Meric Gertler,
We are writing with respect to the University’s decision to cancel the Spring 2020 Convocation ceremonies.
Many students have understood this decision as equivalent to there being no future ceremonies held for this graduating class. If this is in fact the case, we simply cannot express how disappointed we are with this judgement.
Students have waited years for this moment. Their parents have waited years. Generations of family members – grandparents, great-grandparents – will all miss the literal once in a lifetime moment to see their loved ones finally earn their degrees. Thousands of hours, hundreds of restless nights, and an unimaginable amount of stress and struggle have been overcome by students. We continue to come here and push ourselves beyond our physical and mental limits all in the hopes that one day, we will be able to walk across that stage.
The cancellation of Convocation signals the University’s inability to recognize just how much this moment really means to students. This decision is disheartening, short sighted, and inconsiderate. Convocation is more than just an event, and it most certainly cannot be replaced by alternatives such as a reception. One student expressed her grief at the thought of having to explain to her immigrant parents, who sacrificed so much to see her succeed, that they will never get to witness this day. Hundreds, if not thousands, of students share similar stories. Students who are the first to graduate within their families will not be able to see the pride on their families’ faces. Low-income, marginalized, immigrants, and international students – all who have had to go the extra mile to get to this moment – have had their hearts broken today. Many will struggle to find ways to break this news to their families. This is not the type of decision your students expected from the University of Toronto. You have stolen more than just a moment from these students today.
We call on you to recognize the severity of your decision. We are truly upset that this decision was even considered, and cannot imagine how the University will reconcile its relationship with students in the coming years in light of this. Every single student makes sacrifices to attend this institution. We pay tens of thousands of dollars in tuition, our mental health and well-being suffers, and some of us spend months away from those we love. We all deserve this moment. Our families deserve this moment. Our future children will value this moment. Bring back Convocation for your students.
Yours sincerely,
The ASSU Executive
c.c.: Cheryl Regehr, Vice-President and Provost
Sandy Welsh, Vice-Provost, Students
Melanie Woodin, Dean, Faculty of Arts & Science
ASSU Constituents
