MIT revokes graduation participation from class president due to pro-Palestinian address.
Modified Article:
MIT Kicks Out Pro-Palestinian Class President from Graduation Ceremony
The recent drama at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) headlines the student-led outcry against the institution's research ties with Israel. This firestorm erupted when Megha Vemuri, the 2025 class president, delivered a speech supporting Palestine at an event, and was subsequently barred from Friday's graduation ceremony.
According to a statement issued Friday, MIT reluctantly declined the class president's participation in the Undergraduate Degree Ceremony due to the speech she delivered at Thursday's OneMIT commencement ceremony. The university spokesperson, Kimberly Allen, noted that the student was given a scheduled role but was deemed ineligible for the day's events. Critics argue that the school's decision stifles Vemuri's right to free speech, while supporters contend that her actions were disruptive, misleading, and disrespectful to ceremony proceedings.
The Palestinian Youth Movement shared Vemuri's speech online, highlighting her call to action for MIT to cease supporting Israel and assuaging the Palestinian people's plight. During her speech, Vemuri addressed the audience wearing a Keffiyeh, seen as a symbol of Palestinian nationalism, and criticised MIT's research collaboration with the Israeli military.
Since October 7, 2023, the intensifying conflict in Gaza has claimed the lives of over 52,000 Palestinians, with Hamas militants triggering a slew of Israeli casualties as well. The international community, including the United Nations, has expressed concern over Israel's questionable actions in Gaza, such as cutting off aid to the enclave.
Vemuri's passionate plea resonated with her fellow classmates, who cheered and waved Palestinian flags in solidarity. In her speech, she asked her peers to honor their commitments as scientists, engineers, and leaders by supporting Palestinian aid efforts and demanding MIT sever ties with Israel.
As of now, some universities in Gaza have been destroyed, and Vemuri decried MIT's role in helping perpetuate the ongoing genocide of the Palestinian people. She also pointed out that the undergraduate body had already voted in favor of cutting MIT's ties, and she faced threatening, suppressive, and intimidating retaliation as a result.
Vemuri appealed to her fellow graduates to carry out an MIT tradition by turning their class rings, with the MIT mascot "Tim the Beaver," to face the world. As they lifted their rings, she reminded them that the beaver now faced outwards, symbolizing the vast responsibility they would bear as they entered the world with the MIT moniker. She emphasized that carrying the MIT name manifests an obligation to combat the ongoing genocide of the Palestinian people.
NBC News reached out to Vemuri for comment, but there has been no response as of press time. Many speculate whether Vemuri was officially allowed to graduate from MIT and question whether this was an isolated incident or a broader crackdown on politically-motivated student activism.
This incident mirrors an earlier story at New York University, where Logan Rozos had his diploma withheld after giving an unauthorized commencement speech accusing Israel of atrocities during the Israel-Hamas war. NYU denounced Rozos' words as an expression of his biased political sentiments.
Functioning as beacons of scientific enlightenment and academic progress, it remains to be seen how these institutions address controversial student activism and balance their ideals of academic freedom with the demands for order during official events.
Recommended
U.S. Politics
- Is pro-Palestinian activism on college campuses escalating?* Should universities support student-led protests against their research ties with Israel?
Education
- Is it fair for universities to withhold diplomas from graduating students who express controversial opinions during commencement speeches?
Middle East
- How can the Israel-Palestine conflict be resolved diplomatically?
- The escalating pro-Palestinian activism on college campuses, as seen in incidents at MIT and NYU, raises questions about the balance between academic freedom and order during official events.
- The recent incidents at MIT and NYU, where students were barred from graduation ceremonies for expressing their pro-Palestinian views, highlight the need for discussion on the appropriateness of withholding diplomas from graduating students for controversial opinions in education-and-self-development forums. Meanwhile, war-and-conflicts in the Middle East, such as the ongoing Israel-Palestine conflict, demand immediate attention and questioning of strategies for diplomatic resolution. Moreover, general-news outlets should cover these events and their impact on education systems and self-development opportunities.
