Long Beach State's Unique Commencement Controversy

In 2020, all 23 campuses in the Cal State system cancelled or postponed their commencement ceremonies. Since then, these schools have slowly returned to their traditional formats, except for Cal State Long Beach...

Read the print issue:

Sources:

2023 Angel Stadium License Agreement

2018-2019 Commencement Budget

CSUF Division of Academic Affairs

California State University

Let ‘23 Walk Organizer Zeina Elrachid

Interviews conducted over the course of 2 months with LBSU President Jane Close Conoley and CSUF President Framroze Virjee.

Video:

Commencement Highlights 2022

CSULB Grads Will Not Walk for Graduation. Students Are Protesting

Cal State Long Beach students upset about graduation plan at Angel Stadium

Music:

Eyes Closed - Tobias Viogt

Almost There - Simon Folwar

Assets:

Walter Pyramid:

Google Maps:

Google Earth:

OpenStreetMap:

Bing Maps:

TIMESTAMPS

00:00 Intro
00:22 How did this start?
01:04 What's happening now?
01:57 How did Fullerton overcome what Long Beach couldn't?
02:22 Framroze Virjee Interview
02:47 What do Fullerton's commencements look like?
03:04 What do Long Beach State's commencements look like?
03:33 Is cost the issue?
04:19 Jane Close Conoley Interview
04:42 Credits

//////////////////////////////////////SOCIAL MEDIA//////////////////////////////////////////

Subscribe to the Daily49er on YouTube!

Follow us on Facebook!

Follow us on Twitter!

Follow us on Instagram!

[UnscaryGhosts]

Why would Conoley be tired? Nobody’s asking her to be there, especially since she’s gone out of her way to avoid listening to her graduating classes 3 years in a row.

[davidbin]

After missing out on a traditional graduation in high school, I had my eyes set on celebrating one for college. It’s disheartening to know that another monumental event in my academic career will be denied and forever a foreign experience, simply due to Ms. Jane being too tired to take the time needed to recognize us, the students that she promised to serve.

[Sus-yzqm]

If she tired to make us a real graduation, why don’t she just retired 🙄😒

[Rikola]

I graduated in May 2021 and I still feel sad about not having my name called. At the time, that was the best option. Now, this seems a cruel act to people who worked hard for their degree and want to be celebrated.

[oOItsDreamzOo]

whoever edited this is making it big real soon

[NoahGarcia]

I know the grad thing sucks, but this video is just really well made lol

[Budderboyawesomeness]

This production quality is fucking insane

[skipjones]

Gotta reduce the cost so she can still have her giant salary.

[JoseSanchez-fzmh]

They signed a contract with angel stadium. At the end of the day CSULB operates as a for profit business so they really don’t care about the students experience, all they care about is maximizing their bottom line.

[jordennebeltrame]

I am so sorry for anyone graduating from CSULB. I am at CSUF. I am graduating this year, and I will be hearing my name called at commencement. I feel the same should go for CSULB. I hope these students keep fighting. That is absolutely ridiculous and downgrading to their accomplishments.

[dautolover]

I graduated from UCLA back in 2012, and the school has numerous commencements. The main one (for all graduates) did not include a portion where they read everyone's name. They also limited guests to 4 people.

Each department, however, had their own separate commencement, where they did read each graduate's name. If you were a double major, you could technically participate in two department commencement, in addition to the whole school one.

Here I thought it was the way it would be done at each university/college.

In all honesty, though, when I heard her say that she was doing this because she "tired" after doing 12 ceremonies, I knew that would be the soundbite that would end up kicking her butt. What a terrible thing to say.

[lil_poot_poot]

I wanted to go to the ceremony but I honestly did not want to pay for everything to just sit there, not walk, not get my name called, etc. :')

[crocodilesocks]

so she’s sacrifice 15, 000 students just because she would gain less money and because she is “exhausted” after it. seriously? you’re putting you, one singular person over 15, 000 students that give you your paycheck, that want it different. how selfish and disappointing. they really don’t like you anyway now and nothing obligated you to showing up, i’m sure they’d much like it if you just didn’t come. does that help your exhaustion????

[FelixFamilia]

It’s sad that they chose money over people over students who have worked hard and deserve this moment!

[beebeered]

President Conoley was all about returning to normal post vovid until she realized it would cost too much graduation is where she draws the line 🙄

[ddbdbddc]

For a school that wants to be known as one of the most prominent in the CalState system, this is disheartening. Putting more pressure now and in the near future is better bc the contract at Angels is until 2026.

[FranciscoJHerrera]

As a CSULB student, I hate this graduation style.

[thomasnguyen]

Can we take a moment to appreciate the production quality? I do think it's trying a too hard to be like Vox though.

[jordanjohnson]

Nah. Not delayed or canceled and more. /

[gildluxurious]

Are you tired bc you’re too busy giving yourself and your fellow colleagues bumps in your salaries and not doing your job to promote students in their educational journeys? The excuses! SMH graduating students are tired trying to make a path for themselves in this world without a 6 figure income