The Massachusetts Institute of Technology banned the 2025 class president from Friday’s graduation commencement ceremony after she delivered a pro-Palestinian speech during an event Thursday.
The university made the announcement on Friday without naming the student, saying that she delivered a speech at Thursday’s OneMIT commencement ceremony that was not the one provided in advance.
On Friday, MIT President Sally Kornbluth made her remarks at the commencement for the class of 2025, encouraging them to become ambassadors for scientific thinking and discovery.
“I need you all to become ambassadors for the way we think and work and thrive at MIT,” Kornbluth said.
Earlier this month, New York University withheld student Logan Rozos’ diploma after he delivered an unapproved commencement speech to address what he called the “atrocities currently happening in Palestine” during the Israel-Hamas war.
After the 2025 class president gave a pro-Palestinian speech at an event on Thursday, the Massachusetts Institute of Technology barred her from attending Friday’s commencement ceremony.
Without identifying the student, the university announced on Friday that she had given a speech at Thursday’s OneMIT commencement ceremony that differed from the one that had been circulated beforehand.
According to university spokesperson Kimberly Allen, “While that individual had a scheduled role at today’s Undergraduate Degree Ceremony, she was notified that she would not be permitted at today’s events.”. “While MIT supports free speech, it stands by its decision, which was made in response to the person who disrupted a significant Institute ceremony by purposefully and repeatedly misleading Commencement organizers and leading a protest from the stage. “..”.
The Palestinian Youth Movement identified the student as Megha Vemuri and posted the speech online. While wearing a keffiyeh, Vemuri criticized MIT for “aiding and abetting” Israel’s “assault on the Palestinian people” and for having research ties to the Israeli army. “.”.
Since October, Israel has killed more than 52,000 people in its war in Gaza. Hamas militants killed about 1,200 people in Israel on July 7, 2023, and took 251 hostage. Israel’s actions in Gaza, including cutting off aid to the enclave, have drawn harsh international criticism, including from the UN.
As scientists, engineers, scholars, and leaders, Vemuri stated, “We have a commitment to support life, support aid efforts, call for an arms embargo, and continue demanding as alumni that MIT cut the ties.”.
Her classmates applauded and cheered her speech, with some raising a Palestinian flag in the air.
“There are currently no universities left in Gaza, as we get ready to graduate and move on with our lives,” Vemuri stated. “MIT’s involvement in Israel’s attempt to eradicate Palestine from the face of the planet is regrettable. “.”.
Vemuri said that the undergraduate body voted for the university to sever its ties with Israel and that they were subjected to “threats, intimidation, and suppression coming from all directions, especially your own university officials?”. “..”.
Vemuri stated, “But you won because the MIT community that I know would never tolerate a genocide.”.
Subsequently, Vemuri urged her classmates to participate in the MIT custom of rotating their class rings featuring the university’s mascot, Tam the Beaver. “.”.
Temuri stated, “And as you lift it off your fingers, notice that the beaver is now facing the world instead of you.”. “We will be entering this world with an immense amount of responsibility. We will be carrying the MIT name, which is directly involved in the ongoing genocide against the Palestinian people. We therefore bear the responsibility to take all necessary steps to prevent it. “.
Vemuri was contacted by NBC News to provide a statement.
In her remarks at the class of 2025 commencement on Friday, MIT President Sally Kornbluth urged the students to become ambassadors for scientific inquiry and advancement. The university permits “a lot of room for disagreement, whether the subject is scientific, personal, or political,” according to Kornbluth, but emphasizes the “beauty and power of the scientific method” for the recent graduates. “.
Kornbluth advised, “I need you all to become ambassadors for the way we think, work, and thrive at MIT.”.
During her remarks, Kornbluth made no mention of the incident involving Vemuri or any other specific incident. It’s unclear right now whether Vemuri was permitted to receive his MIT degree.
There have been other graduates punished for their political beliefs besides Vemuri.
After Logan Rozos gave an unapproved commencement speech earlier this month, addressing what he described as the “atrocities currently happening in Palestine” during the Israel-Hamas war, New York University withheld his diploma.
NYU denounced Rozos’ speech as a manifestation of “his personal and one-sided political views.”. “..”.
