The Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) banned the president of the 2025 class, Megha Vemuri, from attending the graduation ceremony after she delivered an unapproved pro-Palestinian speech at a related event. The university announced this decision, emphasizing that Vemuri had misled Commencement organizers and disrupted the ceremony by protesting from the stage. During her speech, Vemuri criticized MIT for its research ties with the Israeli military, accusing the institution of complicity in the violence against Palestinians, amidst the ongoing conflict that has resulted in significant loss of life since October 2023.
Vemuri, who wore a Keffiyeh, garnered support from her peers, some of whom displayed a Palestinian flag, as she highlighted the plight of Gaza, stating there are no universities left there and condemning MIT’s partnership with Israel. She called for alumni to push for the university to sever these ties and emphasized the obligation of graduates to challenge injustices, asserting that MIT’s community would not tolerate genocide.
While MIT supports free expression, spokesperson Kimberly Allen reiterated the decision to prohibit Vemuri from attending the ceremony due to her actions. In her commencement address, MIT President Sally Kornbluth encouraged graduates to embrace scientific thinking and discovery, without addressing Vemuri’s incident directly. The situation reflects a broader trend of universities grappling with political speech, as seen in the recent case of a New York University student whose diploma was withheld for a similar reason. It remains uncertain if Vemuri will receive her diploma.
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