Indian-American Harvard student slams university over response to Gaza protests

During a Harvard University graduation event, Shruthi Kumar, a graduating student, veered off her prepared speech to condemn the university's handling of students involved in protests against what they perceive as a genocide in Gaza by Israel. 

In Short

• Over 1,000 Harvard students walked out during commencement
• Walkout in solidarity with 13 banned graduates
• Student speaker condemned university's actions

An Indian-American student speaker, during her commencement address at Harvard University, lashed out at the Ivy League school for its response to pro-Palestine protests. Shruthi Kumar, a graduating student, veered off her prepared speech to condemn the university's handling of students involved in protests against what they perceive as a genocide in Gaza by Israel.

As the student speaker delivered her speech, over 1,000 Harvard University students staged a walkout in solidarity with 13 undergraduates who were prohibited from graduating after they participated in the Gaza solidarity event.

Shruthi Kumar, who got a standing ovation for her speech, is a first-generation US college-goer. She also criticised university leaders over the decision to deny more than a dozen students their diplomas.

"As I stand here today, I must take a moment to recognise my peers — the 13 undergraduates in the Class of 2024 that will not graduate today,” Kumar told the crowd. I am deeply disappointed by the intolerance for freedom of speech and their right to civil disobedience on campus," she said.

"This is about civil rights and upholding democratic principles. The students have spoken. The faculty have spoken. Harvard, do you hear us?" she continued amid loud cheers and a standing ovation from the crowd, including some of the faculty.

Following her speech, over 1,000 students staged a walkout in protest, with many displaying Palestinian flags and banners demanding an "end to genocide".

Despite a majority vote from the faculty of arts and sciences at Harvard University in favour of conferring degrees upon them, 13 students who were involved in campus protests supporting Palestine were denied graduation, as reported by the Harvard Crimson.

The Harvard Corporation, the university's governing body, voted to halt the students' graduation.

The board said that each of the 13 was found to have violated the university's policies in their conduct during the encampment protest.

"In coming to this determination, we note that the express provisions of the Harvard College Student Handbook state that students who are not in good standing are not eligible for degrees," the Harvard Corporation said in a written statement.