The commencement walkout at Harvard University on Thursday saw hundreds of people protesting the school’s decision to deny degrees to 13 students who were involved in a campus encampment. The students had been participating in protests against Israel’s war in Gaza, which has been ongoing for months. The walkout, which featured chants of “Let them walk,” was supported by a large number of students and also saw Palestinian flags being flown by some attendees. The Harvard Corporation had made the decision to withhold degrees from the students, despite a faculty recommendation to allow them to graduate.
This protest is not an isolated incident and follows a trend of pro-Palestinian demonstrations at universities across the country. Earlier this month, similar protests disrupted graduation ceremonies at the University of California Berkeley, the University of North Carolina, Xavier University, Virginia Commonwealth University, and the University of Texas at Austin. The issue of Israel’s actions in Gaza has been a contentious one on college campuses, with students demanding divestment from Israeli military-linked companies and an end to support for the Israeli government’s policies.
Harvard has been at the center of these protests, with students critical of the school’s response to the Gaza conflict. The student-led demonstrations gained national attention and resulted in the campus encampment being disbanded after the school agreed to review suspensions and meet with students regarding divestment. However, the Harvard Corporation’s decision to deny degrees to the 13 students involved in the protests has reignited tensions on campus. Critics argue that the school has not adequately addressed antisemitic rhetoric and some donors and lawmakers have called for more stringent punishments for those involved in the protests.
The controversy surrounding Harvard and its handling of the protests has drawn the ire of prominent donors and lawmakers. Billionaire megadonors like Len Blavatnik and Ken Griffin have distanced themselves from the university, citing concerns over antisemitism and student behavior. Hedge fund manager Bill Ackman, a Harvard graduate, has been particularly vocal in his criticism, calling for the suspension of students involved in a pro-Palestinian demonstration that he claimed turned violent. The issue has become a flashpoint for debates over free speech, campus policy, and the responsibilities of universities to address hate speech and discrimination.
The walkout at Harvard’s commencement reflects the ongoing tensions within the university community over Israel’s actions in Gaza and the appropriate response to student protests. Despite the school’s efforts to engage with students and address their concerns, the decision to withhold degrees from the 13 students involved in the protests has sparked further controversy. The future of campus activism, free speech, and academic freedom at Harvard and other universities remains uncertain as the debate over Israel-Palestine continues to unfold in academic settings.
