Story at a glance
- Several universities around the country are withholding or threatening to withhold the diplomas of seniors who participated in pro-Palestinian demonstrations.
- The institutions said they are withholding the documents until disciplinary investigations are completed.
- This has spurred more criticism of the schools from some students and leaders.
CHICAGO (NewsNation) — Several universities across the country are dolling out discipline after weeks of pro-Palestinian protests on college campuses, including institutions withholding or threatening to withhold the diplomas of seniors who participated in demonstrations.
The institutions said they are withholding the documents until disciplinary investigations are completed.
Although many Israel-Hamas war protests on college campuses were peaceful, hundreds of students were arrested across the country.
University of Chicago refuses diplomas
Four students were refused their diplomas at the University of Chicago, prompting dozens of students to walk out of the commencement ceremony, booing and chanting.
University of Chicago graduate Yousef Haswa said he received an email just days before graduation, informing him that he wouldn’t receive his diploma. A university official said his “disruptive conduct” would require further review.
In response, Haswa threw his robe to the ground along with his Odyssey Scholar medal, calling his diploma refusal a “pointless” punishment.
“My diploma doesn’t matter when there are people in Palestine and Gaza that will never walk a stage again,” Haswa said.
Thousands of students and staff have signed a petition calling for the university to grant the degrees to the four students. Several Chicago City Council members have also signed a letter with the same demands.
Other universities withhold degrees
On the West Coast, the University of California, Los Angeles is reportedly threatening to discipline and withhold degrees from at least 55 students who participated in protests on campus.
UCLA administrators pointed to these disciplinary procedures online.
At Harvard University, more than a dozen students were denied diplomas over the weekend. About a thousand people walked out of the commencement speech standing in solidarity.
According to USA Today, these students may not get their degrees until 2026.
Princeton University has reportedly withheld diplomas from two of their seniors. Additional reports say degrees will also be withheld at Vanderbilt and Columbia University pending investigation.
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