A graduate of NYU’s Gallatin School of Individualized Study was denied a diploma after delivering an unapproved pro-Palestinian statement during his commencement address. 

Logan Rozos was appointed student speaker for the school’s graduation ceremony on May 14. During the speech, he shifted his focus to the situation in Gaza:

“I want to say that the genocide currently occurring, supported politically and militarily by the United States, is paid for by our tax dollars and has been live streamed to our phones for the past 18 months,” Rozos said. “I do not wish to speak only to my own politics today, but to speak for all people of conscience, in all people who feel the moral injury of this atrocity… I condemn this genocide and complicity in this genocide.”

Rozos’ speech was met with applause and ovations from students in the audience. 

NYU spokesperson John Beckman issued a statement condemning the speech and announcing disciplinary actions the university will be taking against Rozos: 

“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,” Beckman said. “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.”

According to Washington Square News (WSN), a professor in the Gallatin school claimed the speech did not violate school policies: 

“A Gallatin professor, who requested to remain anonymous out of fear of retaliation, said that most faculty on stage did not view Rozos’ speech as a violation of school policies and that “there was no reason” to ask him to leave. Lukose said that even if faculty disagreed with his speech, there was “no reason to curtail his right to say it.” 

Other NYU professors claim the university’s actions violate academic freedom, WSN wrote.