In a recent development, a school spokesperson decided to go against speech protocol. In the viral video, the student decided to voice her opinion instead of the scheduled speech, and boy, did she have a lot to say!
Between May 22 and May 23, 2024, Harvard University had its graduation ceremony, which included a class day and the commencement ceremony. On Thursday, May 23, 2024, a senior student was scheduled to give a speech but instead decided to use the time to address the university’s handling of student protesters.
Shruthi Kumar, 22, is a senior at Harvard University. The school selected her to give the English address during the ceremony. However, she decided to go off-script, choosing to direct her speech at the university management.
Kumar’s initial speech was titled “The Power of Not Knowing,” which is somewhat of an irony as the university didn’t know of her plan. As her speech began, she took out a piece of paper from where she had hidden the sleeves of her crimson dress. The paper contained an unofficial speech, which she decided to follow.
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Kumar started by saying that as she appeared on stage, she must take the time to recognize her colleagues who could be here. Earlier in May, the school disbanded a student encampment, which Harvard asserted was against school policy. Consequently, the school prevented 13 undergraduate students from graduating with their peers.
The students were punished for their involvement in pro-Palestine demonstrations on school grounds. Kumar also highlighted this fact in her speech. She said that the school’s decision toward the protesters was disappointing. She also accused the school of not respecting its students’ rights to freedom of speech and their freedom to demonstrate.
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Additionally, Kumar said the students are speaking their minds and opinions. She focused the remainder of her speech on the Israeli-Palestinian conflict. At the end of her speech, Kumar was met with a resounding standing ovation from guests, students, and faculty members.
However, it is important to know that Kumar’s speech is one in a long line of continuous outcries about mistreatment. Harvard students continue to protest the university’s decision, which goes against the faculty’s decision to let the school graduate with their mates.
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On Thursday, May 23, 2024, as the commencement ceremony was starting, student protesters gathered in silence. Choosing to take a different approach, they came with a placard, which they lifted up without making any chants.
The placard called attention to the war crimes in Gaza and the support of the 13 students. However, counter-protesters took a different approach, flying overhead with planes.
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