BACKGROUND

In 2020, the entire Cal State system had to adapt to the challenges posed by the COVID-19 pandemic, leading to the cancellation or postponement of all traditional commencement ceremonies. In compliance with COVID-19 guidelines, universities hosted their 2021 commencement ceremonies at large off-campus venues to maintain social distancing.

While most schools gradually returned to their conventional formats, Cal State Long Beach elected to permanently incorporate some of their pandemic-era changes into their commencement ceremonies. These stripped-down ceremonies did not include features like on-field seating or name reading. 

This investigative piece sheds light on the controversial decisions and disparities surrounding post-pandemic commencement ceremonies in the Cal State system, with a focus on CSULB's unique situation and the persistent efforts of its students to have their voices heard.

RESEARCH

Due to the large scale of the controversy, the Daily Forty-Niner created a special issue dedicated to the story. The collaborative effort resulted in an abundance of interviews, research, analysis, and data all from differing angles and perspectives. I worked efficiently to interpret the information I had available to me, collect additional data, and conduct additional interviews.

In the lead up to the commencement ceremony, Cal State Long Beach provided students with a 10-point email outlining the logistical challenges of providing a traditional ceremony. I cross-referenced these justifications with past quotes by university officials, public records requests, and information from Cal State Fullerton. The result was a video that systematically discredits a false narrative pushed by university administration for over 2 years. 

EDITING

A significant hurdle in this story was the lack of on-camera interviews. The phone interviews with CSUF President Framroze Virjee and CSULB President Jane Close Conoley provided essential information for the story and were a necessary inclusion in the video.

To address the deficiency of a visual component, I crafted three-dimensional models of the information relayed by both interviewees. This not only enhanced the video but also provided viewers with a dynamic backdrop for an otherwise audio-centric interview.

The majority of this video was created using Adobe After Effects, Adobe Premiere Pro, and Blender. The plug-ins GeoLayers and Element 3D were employed to make the maps and CGI shots of Angel Stadium.

WRITING

Before writing a script for a video it is important to identify your target audience. In this case, I knew that this video would appeal to both students and parents. I assumed that a large portion of the viewership would come from students sending the video to their parents and wanted to cater to this audience. I also knew that parents would be far less informed on university topics than their children. As such, I included a heavy emphasis on necessary background information in the script.

In the lead-up to the controversy the university gave conflicting statements on why the non-traditional format was necessary. Cal State Long Beach President Jane Close Conoley provided inconsistent information on commencement attendance rates. This posed a significant challenge during both the scripting and research phases of the project. I elected to keep the video within 5 minutes and debunk only the necessary and relevant misinformed statements.