The school says that they will ''[maintain their] policy of requiring caps and gowns for participation in the Convocation Ceremony,'' because of the more than 100 students who have already put in their orders for the caps and gowns.
According to the school, those caps and gowns have already been put into production, and ''those students who have diligently placed orders would not be permitted a refund. [Thus,] the opt out would not be an option for most students.''
Those students who cannot afford the relatively expensive graduation attire, are not happy with the school’s demands that they opt-in for the ceremonial gear. The students who are claiming that the $136 is out of their reach, have gathered a petition in support of their cause. Additionally, they’ve sent administrators at the school a letter backing their cause.
''We believe that students should not be required to pay $136 and rent graduation attire in order to walk with their classmates,'' the letter started. ''In a historically awful economic climate, some with six figures in debt, and weak career prospects, we have already suffered enough of a financial blow. A $136 entrance fee to graduation that serves mere aesthetic purposes seems unreasonably out of touch with this reality. Students who have earned the right to graduate should get to choose whether to rent regalia.''
The outcome of the situation remains to be seen, but we will keep you abreast of any updates to the situation.
