Marquette parents express frustration as graduation date remains uncertain

 

MILWAUKEE (CBS 58) -- There is frustration on the Marquette University Campus. Graduation is tentatively scheduled for May 11 or May 12 at Fiserv Forum. Finalizing a graduation date at the Bucks' home rests on the NBA playoff series.

The general consensus from students is it's not a big deal. Even ones with families coming from out of town say that they had planned to be here for the full weekend anyway. But one group is fired up and that's the parents.

Those parents are sounding off online. Some calling this a "scheduling nightmare," that there "has to be a better solution," and one mom saying she'd "like a date I can tell my employer I won't be at work."

"The Bucks have been doing very well. This was foreseeable and I don't think the university did a good job on looking at something that is foreseeable," said Ann Buran-Bongher, Marquette Mom.

Marquette expects to know by May 4 if they'll be holding graduation May 11 or May 12. That all depends how the Bucks play.

"A lot of people are upset and angry which is totally understandable especially for the families that have to travel," said Tarin Malloy, Marquette Senior.

"If they don't let us know until May 4, I think that'll be a little inconvenient," said Katie Smith, Marquette Senior.

"It's a lot and my parents keep texting me asking me like, have you found out yet," said Natalie Milano, Marquette Senior.

Still up in the air for families - what dates to book hotels, flights, even restaurants.

"I'm texting my son almost daily. 'Do you have any updates' and he's like 'no, no, no, no.' So, he's getting frustrated with me," said Buran-Vongher.

Parents say it's another blow to a class that's had to be strong right from the start. Their first semester was the height of the pandemic.

"They didn't get a convocation mass. They didn't get this big welcome. They got hi, you're here, you live here, you have two kids in a room, you have three you're kicked out of the university. But just give some people like a concrete date because it's a big deal to have your kid graduate from college too. It's a disappointment to the parents," said said Buran-Vongher.

We reached out to Marquette and to Fiserv for comment. Both declined.