New York University strips student of degree for condemning Israel in graduation speech

New York University on Wednesday withheld a student's diploma after he condemned Israel's war of genocide in Gaza during his commencement speech.

Logan Roussos, valedictorian and senior speaker from New York University's Gallatin School of Individualized Study, delivered his commencement address, saying, "The only appropriate thing to say at this time and for a group of this size is to acknowledge the atrocities currently taking place in Palestine."

“As I reflect on the depths of my heart today as I address all of you,” Rozos told the crowd, “my moral and political commitments guide me” to condemn Israel’s assault on Gaza, which has killed at least 53,000 Palestinians over the past year and a half. “The genocide currently taking place is politically and militarily supported by the United States, paid for by taxpayers, and broadcast live on our phones for the past 18 months,” Rozos added. “I do not wish to speak only for my political views today, but for all people of conscience, and all who feel the moral damage caused by these atrocities.”

Roses' anti-war speech was met with cheers and applause from students throughout the hall. Some in the audience booed Roses, and one person appeared to shout "Bullshit!" from the crowd.

Following Rozos' speech, NYU issued a statement saying it "strongly condemns the choice of a student at today's Gallatin College commencement ceremony... to misuse his role as student speaker to express his personal and partisan political views."

The university said: "He lied about the speech he was going to deliver and violated his commitment to comply with our rules. The university will withhold his diploma pending disciplinary action. NYU deeply regrets that the public was exposed to these remarks and that this moment was stolen by someone who abused their privilege."

As of Thursday morning, Rose's student profile on NYU Gallatin's website appeared to have been removed, with a message saying, "Page or file not found."

Last August, NYU updated its student conduct guidelines to include “code words, such as ‘Zionist’” as examples of discriminatory speech.

"For many Jews, Zionism is part of their Jewish identity. Speech and behavior that violates [the non-discrimination and anti-harassment policy] if it targets Jews or Israelis can also violate national human rights law if it is directed at Zionists," the university said. The updated guidelines came months after anti-war students at NYU and other universities across the country demonstrated in solidarity with Palestine. As a result, NYU called police to campus, resulting in widespread arrests of students and faculty.

Last December, two professors, declared "persona non grata" by New York University, accused the university of escalating its suppression of anti-war speech under pressure from donors, politicians, and pro-Israel organizations.

Professors Andrew Ross and Sonia Busmenter were barred from entering some university buildings. The Papua New Guinean government's statements came after Ross and Busmenter joined a sit-in at the university library demanding the university divest from companies profiting from Israel's war on Gaza.

A few months later, the university canceled a lecture on USAID cuts after deeming it "anti-government." According to Dr. Joanne Liu, a pediatric emergency physician at Saint Justine Hospital and former international president of Doctors Without Borders, NYU's vice president of education contacted her on the eve of her presentation last March to inform her of the cancellation. Liu said the vice president expressed concerns about the content of some of her slides, including those mentioning the Trump administration's cuts to USAID funding, as well as slides mentioning Palestinian casualties in Gaza as a result of the Israeli war on the territory. Liu added that she was informed that the slides relating to Gaza "might be considered anti-Semitic."