MIT President Banned From Graduation for Pro-Palestinian Speech

MIT Class President Banned From Graduation for Pro-Palestinian Speech Cambridge, Massachusetts – Meha Vemuri, the class president of MIT's graduating class of 2025, was barred from her own graduation ceremony following a pro-Palestinian speech she delivered at a separate commencement event. The speech, given on Thursday, May 29th, 2025, strongly criticized MIT's research ties to the Israeli military and its role in the ongoing conflict in Gaza. Vemuri, wearing a keffiyeh, stated, "You called for a permanent ceasefire in Gaza, and you stood in solidarity with the pro-Palestine activists on campus." The university responded with a statement on May 30th, 2025, which read in part, "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." The statement emphasized MIT's commitment to free expression but defended its decision to ban Vemuri, citing her actions in deliberately misleading commencement organizers and leading a protest from the stage. Despite the ban, Vemuri is still expected to receive her degree. The incident has sparked a debate on free speech within universities and the complexities of balancing institutional neutrality with student activism. The controversy highlights the sensitive nature of the Israeli-Palestinian conflict and its impact on academic institutions.