Disruptions at University of Chicago graduation as school withholds 4 diplomas over protests

CHICAGO – Dozens of scholars protesting the war in Gaza walked out of the University of Chicago’s graduation Saturday as the school withheld the diplomas of 4 seniors over their involvement with a pro-Palestinian encampment.

The disruption to the wet two-hour out of doors rite used to be temporary, with shouts, boos and calls to “Stop Genocide.” A crowd of students walked out in between speeches. Some chanted as they held Palestinian flags while others donned traditional keffiyeh, black and white checkered scarves that represent Palestinian solidarity, over their robes.

Four graduating seniors, including Youssef Haweh, were informed by email in recent days that their degrees would be withheld pending a disciplinary process related to complaints about the encampment, according to student group UChicago United for Palestine.

“My diploma doesn’t matter when there are people in Palestine and in Gaza that will never walk a stage again, who will never receive a diploma. What about them? Who’s going to fight for them?” Haweh mentioned in a Saturday remark.

Students have walked out of commencements at Harvard University, the Massachusetts Institute of Technology and others as protest camps have sprung up across the U.S. and in Europe in contemporary weeks. Students have demanded their universities stop doing business with Israel or corporations they are saying fortify its conflict in Gaza. Organizers search to magnify calls to finish Israel’s war with Hamas, which they describe as a genocide towards the Palestinians.

The University of Chicago encampment was cleared May 7. Administrators had initially adopted a permissive approach, but later said the protest had crossed a line and caused growing concerns about safety. One group temporarily took over a building on the school’s campus.

University officials, who did not return a message Saturday, have said the demonstrations prompted formal complaints including for “disruptive conduct,” and would require further review. The students were still able to participate in graduation, and can receive their degrees if they are later cleared after the university inquiry into alleged violations of campus policy.

Thousands of scholars and college individuals have signed a petition calling for the college to grant the levels, whilst greater than a dozen Chicago City Council individuals have penned a letter asking for a similar.