Hundreds of students walked out of Harvard University’s commencement ceremony, chanting “Let them walk!” to show support for 13 student protesters who were not allowed to graduate due to a vote by the Harvard Corporation. Interim President Alan Garber acknowledged the unrest on campus and urged a minute of silence amidst the celebrations. Student speakers strongly criticized the Harvard Corporation’s decision, with undergraduate speaker Shruthi Kumar calling out Harvard for punishing freedom of speech and expressions of solidarity. Commencement speaker Maria Ressa, a veteran journalist and Nobel Peace Prize laureate, emphasized the importance of free speech and the need to not silence protests.
Despite efforts to minimize distractions during the commencement ceremony, the tensions between the university and student protesters were evident. The disagreements stemmed from differing interpretations of an agreement made between the protesters and administrators to clear their encampment in Harvard Yard. Students believed Harvard had made concessions, while the university stated it had only agreed to open a dialogue. As the ceremony progressed, students expressed their support for the protesters who were denied their degrees, emphasizing the need to stand together for civil rights and civil disobedience. The walkout culminated a year filled with protests against the Israel-Hamas war, sparking nationwide debates on universities’ handling of campus unrest.
The turmoil at Harvard arose from student organizations signing an open letter that held Israel responsible for the violence of Hamas attacks, leading to backlash. Pro-Palestinian students faced doxxing, antisemitic slurs, and withdrawal of donor funding, while Jewish students also experienced attacks on social media. The controversy eventually led to the resignation of Harvard’s first Black president, Claudine Gay, amidst academic plagiarism charges and her perceived mishandling of disputes. Even the formation of an antisemitism task force was met with criticism due to the appointment of Derek J. Penslar, who was perceived to underestimate antisemitism on campus. The latest incident of student discipline began with some seniors being barred from graduating, sparking outrage over perceived punishment for peaceful protests.
The debate over student discipline intensified as the faculty initially restored the 13 students to the list of those eligible to graduate, only to be overruled by the Harvard Corporation. The students have the option to appeal the decision and request to be reinstated, with the promise that their degrees will be conferred promptly if they are allowed to graduate. The situation highlighted the ongoing tensions between students advocating for free expression and solidarity and the university administration seeking to maintain order and discipline on campus. Harvard’s commencement walkouts served as a culmination of a tumultuous year marked by protests and debates over free speech, academic integrity, and the handling of campus unrest.
