Chicago, Illinois – Students at the University of Chicago took a stand against the war in Gaza by walking out of their commencement ceremony. The school had decided to withhold the diplomas of four seniors due to their involvement in a pro-Palestinian encampment. The protest during the ceremony was brief but impactful, with students staging a demonstration and chanting calls to “Stop Genocide.”
The graduating seniors, including Youssef Haweh, were notified via email that their degrees would be withheld pending a disciplinary process related to the complaints about the encampment. In response, Haweh expressed that the diplomas were insignificant compared to the plight of the people in Palestine and Gaza who are suffering. University officials acknowledged the walkout and emphasized the institution’s commitment to upholding students’ rights to express diverse viewpoints.
This walkout is part of a broader trend, with students at Harvard University, the Massachusetts Institute of Technology, and other universities protesting Israel’s actions in Gaza. Protest camps have emerged across the U.S. and Europe as students demand their institutions cut ties with Israel and companies supporting its war efforts. The organizers aim to draw attention to what they describe as a genocide against the Palestinians in Israel’s conflict with Hamas.
Following the commencement, a small demonstration occurred where protesters attempted to access a closed street, resulting in the arrest of an individual unaffiliated with the school. The University of Chicago had cleared the encampment earlier in May after concerns about safety and disruptive conduct. Despite formal complaints against the demonstrators, the students were allowed to participate in graduation pending further review.
Thousands of students and faculty members have signed a petition urging the university to grant the degrees to the seniors, while Chicago City Council members have also voiced their support for the students. The ongoing dispute highlights the complex intersection of student activism, academic institutions, and international conflicts in the current global landscape.