Free Speech Does Not End at Commencement

"Rutgers University's School of Engineering will have a missing voice-ironically, the voice of alum Rami Elghandour, the tech entrepreneur who was executive producer of the Oscar-nominated film The Voice of Hind Rajab. The administration disinvited Elghandour because "some graduating students would not attend their graduation ceremony due to concerns about the invited speaker's social media posts" criticizing Israel."

"Elghandour said his cancellation sent a "dangerous" message to students: "Don't you dare speak up and say anything that you believe." Rutgers claimed that the ban "honors the celebratory spirit of the event to ensure that no graduate feels forced to choose between their personal convictions and a convocation ceremony"-unless, of course, a student has any personal convictions supporting free speech."

"At the University of Michigan last week, brief praise of pro-Palestinian student activists in a graduation speech by history professor Derek Peterson resulted in global condemnation, a denunciation from the university president for his "hurtful and insensitive" comments, and a declaration by Republican senator Rick Scott of Florida about Michigan's government funding: "it's time to cut them off COMPLETELY.""

"Beth Kuhel wrote in the Times of Israel, "When a tenured professor, acting in an official institutional capacity at a university-sponsored event, uses a platform of this magnitude in a way that is widely perceived as discriminatory toward a protected group, it raises not only institutional concerns but also civil rights implications." This is absolutely wrong, and we must completely reject these terrible, repressive theories of censorship. Political opinions are not acts of discrimination. Speeches at university-sponsored events are not official actions. Colleges must never be investigated by the government for allowing free expression."

Rutgers University’s School of Engineering will hold a commencement ceremony next week without alum Rami Elghandour. The administration disinvited him because some graduating students were expected to avoid the ceremony due to concerns about his social media posts criticizing Israel. Elghandour said the cancellation sends a dangerous message to students, warning them not to speak up about what they believe. Rutgers stated the decision honors the celebratory spirit of the event so no graduate feels forced to choose between personal convictions and attending. At the University of Michigan, a history professor’s brief praise of pro-Palestinian student activists in a graduation speech drew global condemnation, a university president’s denunciation, and calls from a U.S. senator to cut government funding completely. A commentator argued that political opinions are not discrimination and that university speech should not be treated as official action subject to government investigation.

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