Columbia University president supports Mahmoud Khalil in graduation speech

Columbia University’s Acting President Sparks Controversy

Claire Shipman, the acting president of Columbia University, stirred up a bit of a firestorm during a recent event. She acknowledged former student Mahmoud Halil, who had been arrested in connection with an Ivy League graduation.

As she spoke, members of the audience began chanting Halil’s name, which led to a somewhat uncomfortable exit for Shipman from the stage, especially given the context of her remarks at the university he had previously attended.

“We believe strongly that international students share the same freedom of speech rights as all others, and they should not be singled out by the government for expressing those rights,” Shipman declared to a crowd of nearly 37,000.

Shipman later added, “Many in our community feel the absence of alumni Mahmoud Khalil.” It’s a sentiment that seemed to hang heavily in the air.

Halil was apprehended by immigration agents last March while at a university-owned off-campus apartment. He has since been awaiting deportation after an incident involving a Louisiana immigration detention facility.

The Trump administration has criticized Halil, citing his role as a spokesperson for groups opposed to Israel, claiming he engaged in activities linked to Hamas, a recognized terrorist organization.

Some students at the ceremony thought Shipman’s comments were ill-timed. One faculty member expressed confusion, asking, “‘Mort?’ Is he dead?” in reference to the crowd’s reactions.

“We should be mourning the hostages who were taken and killed,” another attendee chimed in, referring to recent events in October 2023. Yet another said they felt Shipman’s comments were inappropriate for the day.

An engineering graduate attending the ceremony named Ethan remarked that mentioning Halil was a strange choice. “I think the audience was stunned. It felt like a moment of silence for someone who’s not deceased,” he noted, emphasizing that Halil is no longer a student.

He even likened the situation to a sailor extending unwarranted gestures toward an opposing view. “Columbia clearly has ties to the Palestinian issue. There’s really no need to reach out to that side,” he added.

Ethan speculated that some of the boos directed at Shipman were more a general expression of frustration. “The displeasure isn’t aimed directly at the president. It’s a reaction, a call for more decisive action,” he stated.