MONTREAL - For McGill grads, the convocation ceremony is a rite of passage that they will remember forever. Some, however, aren't happy that this year's event won't be taking place on campus.
The custom since 2004 has been to host the event in a big tent near the university's gates on Sherbrooke, not unlike last year's event which included an address from the legendary William Shatner.
But as a security precaution, the event has been moved inside to the Bell Centre this year, with the exception of McDonald College students, whose grad ceremonies in Ste. Anne de Bellevue will proceed as usual.
Some grads aren't happy that the event is being displaced.
"We're a little disappointed that McGill seems to be conflating students gathering together with protests," said Vaughan Balderston McGill Art History MA grad. "Unfortunately this has nothing to do with that, it's about celebration. We were really looking forward to crossing the stage in the white tent here on the campus."
A fellow Art History MA grad echoed his sentiments.
"Universities are about traditions and I'd like to keep that alive and it has nothing to do with the protest that have been going on," said Amanda Fulginiti.
The two have lit up a Facebook campaign to try to urge the university to change its mind.
Unlike many universities in Quebec, McGill's schedule went on as planned throughout the tuition dispute.
A McGill representative said that the decision to move the event off campus was taken as a result of the unpredictability involved in the current situation.
"We really hope that the students and their parents understand that these are extraordinary circumstances and we didn't take the decision lightly," said McGill University representative Julie Fortier.
