The coronavirus pandemic has placed many graduation ceremonies on hold, leaving many graduating students in what may be called a “graduation limbo.” However, President Donald Trump’s announcement that he will be delivering an in-person commencement address for the cadets at West Point has left many confused.
BBC reports that Trump previously announced that he would be pushing through with his in-person commencement address to the graduating cadets at West Point military academy on the 13th of June this year. West Point is found 80 kilometers north of New York City, which is the center of the US coronavirus outbreak with the highest number of cases in the country. However, Trump’s announcement was met with surprise from the West Point organizers, who still have to finalize the graduation plans as the pandemic rages on in the country.
West Point since then released a statement saying that 1,000 cadets would be brought back to campus, pack their things, go through the graduation rites, and proceed Army Officer Basic Training. They have also revealed that the cadets that would be returning to campus will be subject to detailed COVID19 testing. West Point also noted in their statement that this year’s graduation ceremony would look different than their previous ceremonies due to the pandemic, and thus this would result in limited family participation for the safety of the cadets who are to graduate.
Nevertheless, this raised concerns from many. According to West Point graduate and former Board of Visitors chairwoman Sue Fulton, “Everyone is leery about bringing 1,000 cadets into the New York metropolitan area for a ceremony… it’s definitely a risk” despite commenting that the graduating cadets would be excited about going through with the traditional graduation ceremony in the midst of the pandemic.
Officials at the White House told the New York Times that Trump left the decision to the school officials. They also said that Trump may reassess the decision to participate closer to the graduation day itself depending on the coronavirus crisis plays out over the next several weeks.
Recently, the US Air Force Academy pushed through with their graduation ceremony, with Vice President Mike Pence delivering a commencement address. The graduates were wearing face masks and were marching six feet apart from each other and placed in seats eight feet apart from each other as well. The ceremony was also closed off to visitors.