The University of South Florida is asking students to refrain from taking “selfies” when receiving their diplomas at graduation ceremonies in the coming weeks.
A school official told the Tampa Bay Tribune that taking “selfies” on stage would slow the commencement down.
“We want students to think about the dignity of the ceremony,” Michael A. Freeman, USF assistant vice president and dean for students told the Tampa Bay Business Journal. “It’s supposed to be exciting, but it’s a serious academic ceremony.”
UCF officials have not found a reason to ban the ever-increasingly popular picture.
“Our graduates conduct themselves in a professional manner, and this hasn’t been an issue for us,” UCF Spokesman Chad Binette told the Orlando Sentinel.
However, UCF does ask graduates to keep their cell phones, video cameras and other electronic devices turned off during the ceremony. UCF graduations start on May 1.
