University of Chicago graduation disruptions as school withholds 4 degrees

CHICAGO– Dozens of students protested against the war in Gaza left the University of Chicago’s graduation on Saturday, when the school withheld the diplomas of four seniors because of their involvement in a pro-Palestinian camp.

The interruption of the rainy two-hour outdoor ceremony was brief, with shouts, boos and calls to “Stop the Genocide.” A crowd of students came out between speeches, and a demonstration followed the official ceremony. while others donned traditional kaffiyeh, black and white checkered scarves that represent Palestinian solidarity, over their robes.

Four graduates, including Youssef Haweh, were informed via email in recent days that their diplomas would be withheld pending disciplinary proceedings related to complaints about the camp, according to the student group UChicago United for Palestine.

“My diploma doesn’t matter when there are people in Palestine and Gaza who will never stand on a stage again, who will never receive a diploma. And them? Who will fight for them?” Haweh said in a statement on Saturday.

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

Students dropped out of graduation in Harvard UniversityO Massachusetts Institute of Technology and others as protest camps emerged across the USA and in Europe in recent weeks. Students demanded their universities stop doing business with Israel or with companies that say they support its war in Gaza. Organizers seek to amplify calls to close Israel’s war with Hamaswhich they describe as a genocide against Palestinians.

A small demonstration after the start, where protesters attempted to access a closed street, resulted in the arrest of a person not affiliated with the school, university officials said in a statement.

The University of Chicago camp was released on May 7. Administrators initially took a permissive approach, but later said the protest had crossed the line and caused growing concerns about safety. A group temporarily took over a building on the school campus.

University officials said the demonstrations had generated formal complaints, including for “disruptive conduct,” and would require further review. Students were still able to attend graduation and may receive their diplomas if they are later released following the university’s inquiry into alleged violations of campus policy. The university had no comment Saturday about the diplomas.

Thousands of students and faculty members signed a petition calling on the university to award the degrees, while more than a dozen members of the Chicago City Council wrote a letter asking for the same.