Message to the Class of 2020
Dear Members of the Class of 2020,
One of the things I was most looking forward to this spring was the joy of presiding over your commencement—my first commencement as President of The New School. Like so many other aspects of our lives this spring, things have not turned out as we had hoped. As a first-generation college student myself, I am keenly aware of the profound importance commencement and all it represents holds for us. And I am very sorry that plans to celebrate your graduation in May, in the full splendor of a huge stadium, were among the many difficult sacrifices this awful pandemic has caused. Yet I urge you not to let this pandemic steal your joy; for in no way does it diminish your success, nor the sense of pride that your families, friends, teachers, and mentors share in your accomplishment.
Soon you will be hearing from the Office of Student Success with details about the upcoming virtual Commencement ceremony, in which we will officially confer your degrees. I encourage you to join us in this creative and student-centered tribute. While it is admittedly not the same, I personally am looking forward to celebrating with you and marking this occasion with you and your loved ones as best we can given our present circumstances.
We will continue to envision a time we can be together to honor you in a special way in person. Before we can do that, however, we need to make sure that travel, movement, and large-scale events in New York City are safe. Based on the best advice available from medical experts, which we are monitoring closely, we will need to wait a bit longer before making those plans. And we will be sure that when we do, we invite your input.
Again, I am truly sorry the event in May will be so different than what we had all been eagerly anticipating. Nevertheless, we will celebrate in a way that is unique to this moment and look forward together with boldness and with hope. Meanwhile, please be well and keep each other safe.
Onward and upward!