NCF grad event “[NEW] Commencement: On Our Terms”

"[NEW] Commencement: On Our Terms" is an alternative commencement and grad celebration led by students, for students, and against the hostile takeover of New College of Florida!

Who is organizing this? A group of graduating students, including K. C. Casey and Kyle Miller. We are unaffiliated with a specific student organization, but are receiving help from some amazing alums!

What is it? At this event, we aim to offer a space for graduating students to celebrate our graduation on our own terms, separate from the official commencement ceremony. We will have not only the traditional aspects (e.g. maybe reading names, maybe crossing the stage, all that fun stuff), but also fun bonding activities for graduating students, student bands playing live music, food, speakers (students, alums, etc.) and more!

Why? The new administration that has spent the past four months attacking our students and community cannot, in good faith, celebrate our graduating students and their accomplishments. Commencement is supposed to be a celebration of graduating students and the people who have shaped this school to be what it is. And we’re proud of who we are! So, we’re taking the celebration plans into our own hands. We want this event to be a fulfilling and memorable experience for graduating students that keeps the focus on STUDENTS, rather than an administration desperately trying to maintain normality and instill conformity.

Who will be invited? While this will ultimately depend on the capacity of the venue (we have quotes for spaces ranging from 250 to 600 people), this definitely includes graduating students and their families and friends, as well as faculty and staff (we’ll have an RSVP/ticketing system). If capacity allows, we can extend space to non-graduating students, alums, and community members who would like to support our graduates.

Where? The venue is being nailed down, but we have quotes for some great venues (museum spaces, outdoor spaces, etc.).

When? The evening of Thursday, May 18th (exact time TBA)

How are you funding this? We received $15,000 from the Save New College GoFundMe ad hoc committee (thank you!), and are working with the Novo Collegian Alliance and other supporters to fundraise.

How much will this cost? We have quotes for venues and vendors (food, tables/chairs, AV, food, etc.), and the range is from $25,000 to $45,000. There are also going to be additional costs for security, insurance, transportation from campus, etc. and all the last-minute expenses that come with an event of this size.

What happens to unused funds? Any unused funds will go to a student event fund under the Novo Collegian Alliance, and the use of those funds will be administered by the NCSA (student government at New College of Florida).

Thank you everyone for your support!