Hundreds of students at Harvard University’s commencement ceremony walked out in protest as degrees were conferred, with chants of “Let them walk!”, referencing 13 student protesters who were not allowed to graduate after a vote by the Harvard Corporation. The walkout highlighted ongoing unrest on campus amid celebrations for more than 9,000 graduates. The university’s interim president addressed the turmoil at the ceremony, urging a minute of silence in acknowledgment of global events and unrest.
The controversy stemmed from the Harvard Corporation’s decision to bar the 13 undergraduate protesters from receiving their degrees following campus protests over the Israel-Hamas conflict. Students and faculty saw this action as a violation of an agreement between administrators and protesters to remove their encampment from Harvard Yard. However, the university denied making any promises about the outcome of disciplinary proceedings, leading to widespread criticism and frustration among the student body.
Amidst these tensions, student speakers and commencement speaker Maria Ressa addressed the protests and the need for free speech and expression. Ressa highlighted the importance of protests giving voice without being silenced, emphasizing the testing of institutions like Harvard in the face of campus unrest. The ceremony proceeded with traditional elements, including music, prayer, and speeches, but the atmosphere was overshadowed by the protests and walkouts.
The disagreement over the terms of the agreement between protesters and the university added to the growing tension on campus. While students believed Harvard had conceded to their demands, the university maintained it had only agreed to engage in dialogue with the protesters. As protests against the Israel-Hamas conflict escalated on campus, divisions deepened, leading to confrontations, doxxing, and allegations of antisemitism, further complicating the situation.
The year had been marked by ongoing protests at Harvard and other campuses across the country regarding the Israel-Hamas conflict, sparking national debates on university responses to unrest. The resignation of Harvard’s first Black president, Claudine Gay, and controversies surrounding an antisemitism task force and faculty decisions added to the already fraught atmosphere on campus. The discipline of the 13 students became another flashpoint in a year of turmoil and dissent at the university.
The 13 students who were barred from graduating have the option to appeal the decision and request to be reinstated, with the possibility of having their degrees conferred promptly. The decision by the Harvard Corporation to overrule the faculty’s initial restoration of the students’ eligibility highlighted the ongoing power struggles and conflicts within the university community. The walkout and protests during the commencement ceremony served as a culmination of a year marked by unrest, controversies, and debates over free speech and expression on campus.
