This letter is in response to the article "Students express frustration after commencement announcement," which ran Nov. 4, 2015.
I'm extremely disappointed with the university's decision to use the August class of 2016 as a test and cancel commencement with such late notice and poor reasoning given as to why. As an alumnus, parent and fan, this is completely unacceptable, and I kindly request reconsidering now instead of in 2017.
My daughter has devoted the last four years there as a student and athlete. She's worked hard and so have I in paying for and investing in her future. She had the opportunity to attend any school of higher education of her choice in 2012, and she accepted USC for this journey. She has been planning for graduation in August and has been excitedly looking forward to this day ... this day of earned and proper closure, which has now been postponed and will most likely never come. She is heartbroken, and we both feel let down by our beloved Gamecocks.
No limits. That's the university's motto, but the university is not living up to it by not honoring its part of the journey's end. That's not my Carolina! The "graduating" class of August 2016 deserves better.
- Written by Lisa Long, B.A., University of South Carolina.