University of Florida students to talk with University president about graduation

GAINESVILLE, Fla. (FOX 35 WOFL) - Students from the University of Florida (UF) will meet with the University's president on Thursday to discuss the upcoming changes to their graduation ceremony.

Many students are outraged at the changes made to UF's graduation ceremony following a controversial commencement in May where students were caught on camera being yanked off stage. UF will now no longer call students on stage for graduation. An online petition already has more than 11,000 signatures going against these changes. And it has gotten the attention of UF's president. 

Students will meet with UF President Ken Fuchs on Thursday. He has changed the commencement policy from a large ceremony to smaller ceremonies at individual colleges. Fuchs told the Gainesville Sun that he does not expect to go back to a larger graduation. In fact, he says the university is committed to the graduation changes for the next several years, as he is convinced the changes will enhance and improve graduation. He says that he thinks once students experience it, they will like it even more.