New York, NY – Columbia University in New York City has made the decision to cancel its large university-wide commencement ceremony due to ongoing pro-Palestinian protests that have caused disruptions on campus. The university has opted for a series of smaller, school-based ceremonies to allow students to celebrate their graduation.
The cancellation of the main commencement ceremony on May 15th comes after discussions with students who expressed a preference for smaller-scale, school-based celebrations that are more meaningful to them and their families. The decision also spares the university president, Minouche Shafik, from delivering a commencement address in the same location where a protest encampment was dismantled by police recently.
Other universities across the country are also facing challenges in organizing commencement ceremonies for students whose high school graduations were affected by the COVID-19 pandemic. Emory University in Atlanta announced a shift of its commencement to a suburban arena, following in the footsteps of universities like the University of Michigan, Indiana University, and Northeastern, which have managed to hold ceremonies with minimal disruptions.
Columbia University has already moved its ceremonies from the south lawn of the main campus to a sports complex located about 5 miles north. Despite the changes, speakers such as Pulitzer Prize-winning playwright James Ijames and Dr. Monica Bertagnolli, director of the National Institutes of Health, are still scheduled to address the graduates at the smaller ceremonies.
The protests on campus, which have led to over 200 arrests of pro-Palestinian demonstrators, reflect a broader trend of universities grappling with the balance between allowing free expression and maintaining safe and inclusive campuses. The University of Southern California and other institutions have also faced disruptions and protests related to the ongoing conflict in the Middle East, with students calling for divestment from companies linked to the conflict.
As tensions persist, universities like Emory University are taking precautions by moving commencement ceremonies to off-campus locations with enhanced security measures. Meanwhile, student protesters continue to advocate for their causes, vowing to remain steadfast in their demands for change even as cease-fire proposals are announced in the conflict.