Rutgers University Cancels Graduation Speaker Amid Controversy
Rutgers University has decided to cancel a planned graduation speaker after an outcry related to comments on Israel, leading to a shift in university policy.
The decision came after Rami Elghandour, the CEO of biotech company Arcelx and a Rutgers alumnus, used his social media to claim that Israel was committing war crimes, among other anti-Israel remarks.
Elghandour also produced a documentary focused on a Palestinian girl’s death at the hands of the Israel Defense Forces (IDF).
He was initially set to deliver a convocation address on May 15 at the College of Engineering before the university changed its mind, according to the Associated Press.
A spokesperson for Rutgers indicated that the policy was altered after the university learned that some graduates were considering skipping the commencement due to speakers’ social media activity. However, the spokesperson did not provide specifics on which posts led to this decision.
Representatives for both Rutgers and Elghandour did not immediately respond to requests for comment.
In a statement to the Guardian, the university emphasized that this decision aimed to uphold the celebratory nature of the event, stating it was important for graduates not to feel caught between their beliefs and attending the ceremony.
Elghandour expressed confusion over the university’s actions, arguing it was “inexplicable” for the institution to revoke his invitation for views it claimed to support.
This isn’t the first instance where anti-Israel sentiments have caused disruption on college campuses. Another recent case occurred at the University of Michigan, where a professor praised Gaza protesters during his commencement speech.
In response to the uproar, Rutgers’ president later issued an apology, acknowledging that certain sentiments expressed in a speech had been “hurtful and insensitive” to many in the community.
He expressed regret for the distress caused on a day meant to celebrate accomplishments, adding that the university wished to address this pain.
