SRU sets private graduation for Mexico visitors

The students were teaching in Mexico City and might have been exposed to the swine flu.

STAFF REPORT

SLIPPERY ROCK, Pa. — Slippery Rock University will have an alternative graduation ceremony Saturday for the 22 education majors recently returned from Mexico City.

It will be a private event.

The students, who returned home Tuesday, may have been exposed to the swine-flu virus while completing their student-teacher requirements. The spread of swine flu in Mexico caused officials there to close all schools, including schools in which the Slippery Rock students were teaching.

As a safety precaution, the university arranged for the students, who had been in Mexico since late March, to return home two days earlier than originally planned.

In addition to being presented their diplomas, those electing to attend the alternative ceremony will be appropriately honored for their sacrifice in putting their fellow students and university guests ahead of their own desires by agreeing to the special ceremony rather than attending commencement with their college. The alternative ceremony will be videotaped and inserted into the College of Education portion of Saturday’s 2 p.m. Morrow Field House commencement ceremony.

The university is saddened at having to make the decisions favoring an alternative graduation ceremony, but in the interest of public safety found it to be the prudent decision, a spokesman said. While all of the students appear to be in good health, there is a chance they may come down with the flu, or are still able to spread the virus. They were consulted before the university finalized plans for an alternative ceremony, the spokesman said.

None of them lives in campus housing although some may have apartments near campus, the spokesman said.

The University consulted with the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and the World Health Organization, which are both monitoring the flu’s spread, and were advised that those exposed to the virus should avoid large public gatherings. More than 6,000 people, including graduates, are expected to attend Saturday’s ceremonies.