HOUSTON – A Texas Southern University student leader says students and graduating seniors are planning to keep pressing administrators over what they call shrinking access to their graduation commencement.
This comes after students claim ticket allotments for commencement ceremonies decreased and the university allegedly moved away from holding two separate graduation ceremonies to one.
In a statement, the university said: “Texas Southern University is aware of requests regarding the current commencement ceremony format. Today, students exercised their First Amendment right to free speech, and we appreciate that their views were expressed respectfully and constructively.
President J.W. Crawford, III met with student leaders to hear their concerns and addressed the broader student leadership group. The University will reconvene with student leaders to continue discussions and identify a path forward that supports the spring graduating class of 2026.
We are confident these conversations will lead to a meaningful and memorable commencement experience that honors our students and their families. Texas Southern University remains committed to listening and engaging in good faith."
Jamarion Owens, a senior majoring in broadcast journalism, said student leaders have held multiple meetings with TSU President James W. Crawford III’s administration in recent weeks, asking the school to expand the number of guest tickets for families and reconsider consolidating ceremonies. Owens claimed students were told ticket totals have fallen over time from 10 to eight to six and now to four.
Students gathered in what organizers described as a peaceful rally to call attention to the changes and to broader concerns about communication with university leadership. Knowles said students had been seeking clearer answers and more direct engagement from the president.
“We’ve been going through this for like two and a half weeks now,” Owens said, adding that students believe the administration is not meeting what they view as basic needs for families traveling to celebrate graduates.
Owens tells KPRC 2 their first meeting with Crawford and administrators left limited time for student input, and that Crawford left before students felt they were able to fully speak. A second meeting, he said, was held without the president and included the provost and other administrators, but students still left without what they considered resolution.
Owens also raised concerns about a planned commencement speaker, saying students have not been told who the speaker is and alleging that the guest is connected to the president. Owens said he was told by a former university official that students “wouldn’t like” the speaker and that the person would not reflect the culture of the historically Black university. The university has not publicly confirmed the identity of a speaker.
Students have floated alternative venues, including NRG Stadium and Shell Energy Stadium, Owens said, but he described those ideas as dismissed.
The rally reflects frustrations that go beyond graduation logistics, Owens said, arguing that student leaders feel unheard by the current administration since Crawford took office.
“What is university without your students?” he said.