University of Chicago's graduation ceremony marred by not awarding degrees to pro-Palestinian students

By Gozde Bayar

ANKARA (AA) – Annoyed with the University of Chicago's decision not to award degrees to students who participated in the pro-Palestinian protest, a group of students staged a boycott of the commencement of the graduation ceremony on Saturday amid shouts, boos, and calls to "Stop Genocide" in Gaza by Israeli forces.

The disruption occurred after the university refused to grant degrees to four students because they participated in a pro-Palestinian encampment on campus, according to CBS News.

The rainy two-hour outdoor ceremony was briefly disrupted by shouts, boos, and calls to "stop genocide," the media outlet reported.

“A crowd of students walked out between speeches, and a demonstration followed the official ceremony. Some chanted as they held Palestinian flags, while others donned traditional kaffiyeh, black and white checkered scarves that represent Palestinian solidarity, over their robes,” it added.

One person was arrested after a group of students protesting the ongoing Israeli war in Gaza attempted to gain access to a closed street.

The arrested person has no affiliation with the institute, university officials said in a statement.

Four graduating seniors, including Youssef Haweh, were informed by email recently that their degrees would be withheld pending a disciplinary process related to complaints about the encampment, according to the student group UChicago United for Palestine.

“My diploma doesn’t matter when there are people in Palestine and in Gaza that will never walk a stage again, who will never receive a diploma. What about them? Who’s going to fight for them?” Haweh said in a Saturday statement.

University officials acknowledged the walkout, saying the school is “committed to upholding the rights of students to express a wide range of views,” according to a statement.

On May 7, university police dismantled the pro-Palestinian encampment, following the university expressed safety concerns. As a result, tensions rose between protesters, police, and the university.