MOORHEAD, Minn. –After a meeting with all the university presidents and the chancellor of the Minnesota State College System, students received an email saying their spring graduation ceremony is canceled. Minnesota State University-Moorhead says the decision was made in the best interest of the safety of both students and staff with concerns about COVID-19.

That has prompted MSUM students to launch an on-line petition that asks the ceremony be postponed and not canceled. Students understand that public health is the highest priority but hope to find possible alternatives for their graduation. William Hagen, student body president said, ” this a large moment in your life, a milestone that you really hard worked for, while dealing with these issues, I think we still need to be considering we have this ceremony is some form or another.”

As of early Thursday, the online petition has more than 1200 signatures.