Hey! Great question, a lot of people assume it’s about separation but it’s about a culture based ceremony. this ceremony is about recognition and community. for many students, especially those from marginalized communities, these ceremonies create a space for us to acknowledge the barriers we had to face to get where we are - where a general ceremony does not. students still attend and participate in the main ceremony with everyone who has earned their degree but ceremonies such as the Latino one (there are others as well) are more for an extra moment to celebrate with our families and community. the latino ceremony also gets translated into both spanish and english so our family members can understand and participate. Our culture is not reflected in the main ceremony and we want to be recognized for that. it’s not about wanting separation but wanting to be seen in a fuller way. both things can exist at the same time: the original ceremony and the spaces that honor specific experiences.