University Cancels 'Let Us In' Event as Angry Guests Pound Doors

Post by : Elena Malik

Photo : Screengrab / X / @Dream_Girl_MG

Howard University in the United States abruptly canceled a graduation ceremony just an hour after it commenced, citing chaos caused by the families of some students. The incident occurred during the graduation ceremony for the College of Nursing and Allied Health Sciences at Howard University's Cramton Auditorium, as reported by USA Today. The disruption was apparent as videos surfaced on social media platforms showing a shattered door and a crowd of people outside the venue. Notably, the event had free entry.

According to the student newspaper Hilltop, the crowd began to gather two hours before the scheduled 6 p.m. start time. As the venue reached full seating capacity, the university's security team closed the doors to the foyer. Videos from the scene depict numerous individuals clamoring outside the auditorium, demanding to be let in, with some even resorting to banging on the glass door until it shattered.

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Graduate Bria Flowers recounted to NBC Washington, "While they were doing the keynote speaker, there was, like, loud banging, even before that, for like 10 minutes straight." The disruptive behavior persisted, prompting university authorities to address the attendees mid-ceremony, informing them that the fire department had intervened to shut down the event.

Boo!…hundreds of pissed off families…fights…broken class…graduates walked out…ceremony canceled #HowardUniversity pic.twitter.com/DdDzVuScQs

— MG The Lover (@Dream_Girl_MG) May 10, 2024

Dean Dr. Gina S Brown of the College of Nursing and Allied Health Sciences announced during the ceremony, "Because of the size of the room and because our relatives sometimes do not know how to act, the fire department is now here to shut us down," as reported by the New York Post. However, the DC Fire and EMS department refuted this claim, stating that they responded to a medical call at the auditorium but did not halt the ceremony.

Despite the conflicting reports, many individuals criticized the university's handling of the situation. One student expressed frustration over wasted expenses, lamenting, "All the money we spent. My father and grandmother came down from North Carolina." Additionally, a social media user criticized the university's lack of planning, stating, "This mother's day weekend Howard University shutdown graduation and blamed the families instead of taking accountability for poor planning."