While the coronavirus pandemic will prevent Emporia State University students from walking across the stage at White Auditorium this weekend, it has not prevented the university from continuing to honor the achievements of the 2020 graduating class.
ESU President Allison Garrett says the decision to cancel their spring commencement activities was one that brought pain not only to their students but the entire university campus. She says the cancellation took away a sense of closure not only for their students but the teachers and faculty that have spent upwards of the past four years right alongside them.
While it may be difficult for many to understand the disappointment being felt by graduates at this time, it is safe to say retiring faculty members such as outgoing ESU Theatre Director Jim Bartruff may have the closest perspective. Bartruff, who has served as the director of theatre at ESU for the past 16 years, is set to retire at the end of the academic year.
He says when the academic year was abruptly adjusted he experienced a wide range of emotions.
Bartruff adds the changes which were brought about by the COVID-19 pandemic has reminded him of the importance of living in the moment. Bartruff quoted a line from Shakespeare’s The Tempest saying, “the past is prologue.”
Bartruff explains that this line teaches us not to focus on what was, but rather to make the most of the opportunity in front of us now.
While some may feel that the lack of a graduation ceremony diminishes the accomplishments of the graduating class, President Garrett says it is quite the contrary. If anything she believes the graduates should feel an extra sense of accomplishment given the circumstances they have had to overcome in recent weeks.
While the university is unable to hold a formal ceremony, President Garrett says a number of recognition activities have been ongoing for the past week and have differed amongst each department. This includes an awards ceremony held by the ESU Teacher’s College and the athletic department’s annual Corky awards ceremony both of which were held online.
Garrett adds the university has also taken to social media and created a special wall for their 2020 graduates which allows the community to write congratulatory messages to the graduating class.
The opportunity for recognition will not be ending with these efforts as ESU is planning to welcome spring graduates to attend the winter commencement ceremony later this year. According to Garrett, the university will be sending out RSVPs for that purpose in the fall.
