Howard University graduation ended mid-ceremony after attendees who were not allowed in caused a commotion.
According to ESSENCE, after the auditorium reached capacity. Therefore, the families who were left out were agitated.
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Frustrated families wanted entry
Loved ones from the College of Nursing and Allied Health Sciences graduates gathered in Cramton Auditorium to watch graduates receive their degrees. However, many were denied admission.
HU officials stopped allowing people inside to comply with the building’s fire code.
This upset families who wanted to see their family members walk across the stage. As the graduates’ procession began, people could be heard singing, “Let us in! Let us in! Furthermore, some tried to force entry. During the main speech, there were consistent beats.
Howard graduate Bria Flowers told NBC 4 Washington, “There was a loud banging, even before that, for about 10 minutes straight. Just like boom, boom, boom, boom.”
As the ceremony continued, someone broke a glass door. Furthermore, this ended up resulting in the cancellation of graduation.
The reaction of graduates
“I see my colleagues crying” graduate Olivia Clines shared. Furthermore, she stated that her parents were able to enter the auditorium. However, “Almost everyone around (She) had no parents inside.”
The ceremony’s website reportedly said the auditorium could accommodate three to four guests per graduate. This would be done on a first-come, first-served basis.
“All the families just wanted to see their kids,” Olivia added. She believes the families didn’t enter the building with the intention of causing chaos – they just wanted to witness the special moment.
Additionally, a Howard spokeswoman, Lydia Sermons, said this was the largest graduating class in the institution’s history, which caused the space to reach maximum capacity. Additionally, the university has rescheduled graduation for Saturday, May 11, at Capital One Arena, per DC News Now.
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