UC Santa Barbara plans to relocate seven graduations from the Commencement Lawn, seen here during a 2023 ceremony, to the Recreation Center Fields and limit tickets to six per student rather than first come, first served. The news was announced less than two weeks before commencement.
UC Santa Barbara plans to relocate seven graduations from the Commencement Lawn, seen here during a 2023 ceremony, to the Recreation Center Fields and limit tickets to six per student rather than first come, first served. The news was announced less than two weeks before commencement. Credit: Noozhawk file photo

In a move that immediately sparked a petition from students, UC Santa Barbara abruptly decided to change its commencement venue from the lawn bordering the lagoon to the Recreation Center Fields.

In addition, each graduate participating in a relocated ceremony will be allowed to invite only six people to the new venue, rather than a first come, first served system. Seven commencement ceremonies will be affected in the June 14-16 weekend.

“Guests are subject to security screening,” the UCSB commencement website states.

The Bren School and College of Creative Studies ceremonies will remain in their original venues and tickets will not be necessary, according to the university.

UCSB did not offer a reason for the move in its email to graduating students on Monday afternoon, or on its commencement website.

The decision comes on the same day that UAW 4811 decided to strike at UCSB in solidarity with supporters of Palestine and encampment protesters, who they believe were mistreated by UCSB.

Strikes are occurring at UC Davis, UCLA, UC Irvine, UC San Diego and UC Santa Cruz.

Student Petition

Students are outraged at the commencement venue change and limited tickets.

Within a few hours of the email going out, more than 2,200 people had signed the petition to have the ceremonies moved back to the lawn and for the ticket limit to be dropped.

“The class of 2020 has already lost an entire year in dorms and missed out on a normal high school graduation,” the petition states. “We have been looking forward to our college graduation ceremony, only to have it shifted to the recreation center field and the tickets limited. This milestone is significant for us, especially after enduring so many disruptions.”

The petition says that UCSB should move the graduation ceremony back to the commencement lawn “where it belongs.”

“Family should not have to be left out of this milestone,” the petition states. “Sign this petition to support our request and help us celebrate this important achievement properly.”

Commenters on the site expressed disbelief at UCSB’s decision.

“This is so insulting,” one student wrote on the petition website. “I didn’t have a prom, graduation, or senior activities in high school. … Y’all better not email us blaming the graduate strikers who you guys don’t pay enough. Fix this now. Lagoon and no ticket cap, thank you very much.”

Another person wrote: “We have a few family members flying in from Hawaii and Japan for this momentous occasion. Tickets have already been purchased. This decision needs to be reversed. These students didn’t have a 2020 graduation. They deserve better than this UCSB.”

— Noozhawk South County editor Joshua Molina can be reached at jmolina@noozhawk.com. Follow Noozhawk on Twitter: @noozhawk, @NoozhawkNews and @NoozhawkBiz. Connect with Noozhawk on Facebook.