CHICAGO.- The University of Chicago became the epicenter of a controversy this Saturday, when dozens of students left the graduation ceremony in protest at the withholding of the diplomas of four classmates. These students, included in a pro-Palestinian camp, face a disciplinary process, according to reports from the student group UChicago United for Palestine.
The ceremony, held outdoors in heavy rain, was briefly interrupted by shouts, boos and calls to “stop the genocide.” Some students carried Palestinian flags and the traditional kufiya, a symbol of solidarity with Palestinians, as they chanted slogans and left the event.
Youssef Haweh, one of the four affected students, said in a statement: “My diploma does not matter when there are people in Palestine and Gaza who will never walk across a stage again, who will never receive a diploma. What about them? Who will fight for them? Students were informed by email that their diplomas were being withheld, pending a disciplinary review.
In an official statement, University of Chicago officials recognized students’ right to express a wide range of opinions, although they cited security concerns as a reason for dismantling the camp on May 7. Initially permissive, the university hardened its stance, considering that the protests had crossed a line.
The protest at the University of Chicago is part of a broader movement. Graduates of Harvard University, the Massachusetts Institute of Technology and other institutions have also taken similar actions. In recent weeks, protest camps have been erected in the United States and Europe, with students demanding their universities cut business ties with Israel or with companies that support the war in Gaza.
University authorities reported that a small demonstration following the ceremony resulted in the arrest of a person not affiliated with the school. The university has not commented on the diploma situation, but has indicated that formal complaints of “misbehavior” will be subject to review.
As the student community at the University of Chicago and other institutions mobilize in solidarity with Palestinians, the debate over the balance between free speech and safety on college campuses continues.
Source: With information from AP
