Rep. Anthony D'Esposito, R-N.Y., recently reached out to Columbia University President Minouche Shafik to express his concerns regarding the cancellation of the main commencement ceremony at the Ivy League school. In a letter penned on Wednesday, D'Esposito requested a list of graduating students from his district in order to organize a special graduation ceremony for them.
D'Esposito emphasized the significance of the graduation ceremony, highlighting how it serves as a pivotal moment in the lives of students, celebrated by their families and friends. He expressed disappointment over the students being deprived of this important milestone.
The congressman noted that many of the graduating seniors had already missed out on their high school graduation ceremonies in 2020 due to the COVID-19 pandemic. He underscored the hard work and dedication of these students, who have invested significant time and resources to reach this achievement.
In his letter, D'Esposito criticized the university's handling of campus safety and its failure to prevent incidents of violence, attributing the cancellation of the commencement ceremony to these shortcomings. He pledged to collaborate with community leaders and government partners to ensure that the students receive the recognition they deserve.
D'Esposito asserted that the leadership at Columbia had let the students down, but he was committed to not failing them as well. He urged President Shafik to provide a list of students from New York's Fourth Congressional District so that arrangements could be made for a special graduation ceremony.
