SUNY New Paltz graduation ceremonies split, held indoors 2 weeks after dozens of pro-Palestinian protester arrests on campus

This weekend’s graduation ceremonies at SUNY New Paltz will now be split into smaller, indoor events - two weeks after more than 100 pro-Palestinian protesters were arrested on campus.

The university announced the decision on Tuesday.

Some students and parents are upset and say there’s not enough tickets for loved ones to attend.

An online change.org petition to hold the ceremony outdoors has more than 2,500 signatures. It refers to the “last minute change” as “inconvenient and insensitive” for many students who have family traveling long distances for the event. It also says students who graduated high school during the COVID-19 pandemic, when ceremonies were canceled , are now being forced to “relive the pain” from years earlier.

A SUNY New Paltz letter to the community says the decision was made to avoid any weather disruptions and for the safety of the event. It says students will be given four tickets each and that additional guests can watch on campus in the Lecture Center via livestream or online.

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