During the MIT graduation ceremony for the Class of 2025, class president Megha Vemuri faced backlash for her pro-Palestine remarks at a previous event. She was barred from the graduation after disrupting another ceremony. Students protested in support of her, leading to jeers as Chancellor Melissa Nobles attempted to deliver her speech. Nobles addressed the disruptions, emphasizing the day's focus on the graduates and declaring that Vemuri's actions violated MIT's expression rules. Vemuri defended her comments and labeled the ban as an overreach by the institution.
Participation in Commencement activities is a privilege. You deliberately and repeatedly misled Commencement organizers. While we acknowledge your right to free expression, your decision to lead a protest from the stage, disrupting an important institute ceremony, was a violation of MIT's time, place and manner rules for campus expression.
Excuse me, I respect that you have a message to send, but this is not the time or place. Today is about our graduates and their families. Please respect them and allow me to continue.
Collection
[
|
...
]