New York University (NYU) is withholding a student’s diploma after he turned his graduation speech into a pro-Palestine rant.
The student allegedly lied about the contents of his speech and instead used his time addressing the graduating class only to condemn the U.S.’s supposed “complicity” in genocide, according to a statement from the school on Wednesday. NYU apologized for the student’s speech and announced that it is pursuing disciplinary action against the speaker.
“As I search my heart today in addressing you all … the only thing that is appropriate to say in this time and to a group this large is a recognition of the atrocities currently happening in Palestine,” the student began. “I want to say that the genocide currently occurring is supported politically and militarily by the United States, is paid for by our tax dollars, and has been livestreamed to our phones for the past 18 months, and that I do not wish to speak only to my own politics today, but to speak for all people of conscience, all people who feel the moral injury of this atrocity. And I want to say that I condemn this genocide and complicity in this genocide.”
The student ended his speech after adding the usual congratulatory statement to the graduating class.
Here’s the grad speech that NYU is now withholding the student’s diploma for:
“As I search my heart today in addressing you all…the only thing that is appropriate to say in this time and to a group this large is a recognition of the atrocities currently happening in Palestine.” https://t.co/Ngy64yAqJT pic.twitter.com/gDnbJTHmPS
— Prem Thakker (@prem_thakker) May 15, 2025
“NYU strongly denounces the choice by a student at the Gallatin School’s graduation today—one of over 20 school graduation ceremonies across our campus—to misuse his role as student speaker to express his personal and one-sided political views,” the university said in a statement. “He lied about the speech he was going to deliver and violated the commitment he made to comply with our rules. The University is withholding his diploma while we pursue disciplinary actions.”
“NYU is deeply sorry that the audience was subjected to these remarks and that this moment was stolen by someone who abused a privilege that was conferred upon him,” the university continued.
Rising rates of pro-Palestinian activism on college campuses disrupted graduation ceremonies across the nation in 2024, with some schools having to cancel the events altogether.
The Trump administration has demanded universities tackle anti-Israel bias on campuses and has been swiftly punishing schools that refuse to comply, gutting them of billions of dollars.
NYU did not respond to a request for comment from the Daily Caller News Foundation.
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