A graduation ceremony for nursing students at Howard University turned chaotic after angry family members were locked out of the auditorium due to capacity issues. The loved ones of students in the College of Nursing and Allied Health Sciences gathered at the venue in Washington, DC, but not everyone was able to make it inside before the ceremony was abruptly canceled during the keynote address. Video footage shows people outside chanting and banging on the doors, with a glass door even being shattered in the process.
During the ceremony, loud banging could be heard before school officials announced that the fire department had come to shut things down due to the size of the room and concerns about the behavior of some relatives. However, D.C. Fire and EMS denied shutting down the event, stating that they responded to a medical call and left after evaluating the patient. Students and their families were left shocked and upset by the turn of events, with some graduates expressing confusion and disappointment over how quickly things escalated and the missed opportunity to walk during their graduation.
The incident was especially disheartening for many students, as it was a missed opportunity to celebrate their hard work and achievements. Some graduates shared stories of not being able to walk during their high school graduation due to the pandemic, making this cancellation even more devastating. Families had traveled from far away and spent money to attend the ceremony, only to have it abruptly canceled, leaving many feeling disappointed and frustrated. One student was even injured with cuts on their hands from the broken glass during the chaos.
Howard University released a statement saying that security had to remove someone from the building, leading to a disturbance among guests outside the facility and the eventual disruption of the program. Guests were immediately dispersed following the incident. Despite the cancellation of the nursing students’ ceremony, some affected students were able to participate in the main commencement ceremony on Saturday, and individual awards were given out to students on Friday. The university faced backlash for the poor planning and handling of the situation, with many questioning why there was no headcount limit per graduate for such a large graduating class.
Overall, the incident at Howard University’s nursing students’ graduation ceremony left many families disappointed and frustrated due to being locked out of the venue and the ensuing chaos that led to the cancellation of the event. Students expressed their confusion and sadness over the missed opportunity to walk and celebrate their accomplishments, with some facing injuries from the commotion. The university faced criticism for its handling of the situation and the lack of accountability in addressing the issues that led to the disruption. Despite the setbacks, some affected students were able to participate in other graduation events at the university.
