Thread by @cmclymer

Hi, this is ridiculously misleading and yet another attempt by conservatives to fabricate outrage through half-truths, lies, and innuendo.

Columbia University isn't having "segregated graduation ceremonies". Here's what's actually happening... (thread)

https://twitter.com/TomJordanNews/status/1371791688021254145

Like every college or university, Columbia has their primary graduation ceremony, where all the traditional things happen: formal commencement, degree conferral, etc. This is for all students graduating from Columbia. This is the ceremony you expect. The big show.

But in addition to the big ceremony, Columbia University, like so many colleges and universities, offer supplemental recognition ceremonies for students from marginalized backgrounds to celebrate their accomplishment with peers from their community. These are very different...

There are NO degrees are awarded at these ceremonies. Rather, there's typically one or two notable guest speakers, a certificate of accomplishment given out by the corresponding campus group, and a corresponding cord you wear on your shoulders for the *MAIN* graduation.

These supplemental ceremonies are for student groups like LGBTQ students, Black students, Latinx students, AAPI students, etc. -- it's a completely optional opportunity to reflect on graduation with students and families from similar backgrounds. That's it. That's all it is.

When I was in the closet and not yet ready to come out as a trans woman, the Lavender Graduation ceremony offered by Georgetown in 2016 allowed me to safely be with LGBTQ folks as we reflected on this chapter in our lives. And then, I went to the main graduation ceremony.

This was particularly important for me because for someone without a family, it offered that sense of family and belonging. Also: as a first gen college student myself, I *love* that there are now ceremonies where students + families can reflect on that particular experience.

These supplemental ceremonies have been around at various colleges and universities for a long time. It's a great way to honor the different sacrifices students and their families from different marginalized communities make to get here. So, why are conservatives angry?

Well, I would offer that the prominent conservatives pushing this nonsense aren't really angry. This is yet another way for them to feed their base a narrative that the country is changing around them, and it should somehow alarm them. It's yet another tool for their grift.

Bottom line: these supplemental ceremonies are a great thing, and I'm delighted that colleges and universities continue to offer the experience. It doesn't cost anyone else a damn thing. Let students and their families continue to celebrate in this way. /thread