UMass Student Protestors Honored in Alternate Graduation Ceremony
Graduating seniors participating in the People's Commencement received diplomas from the People’s University for Gaza that were issued “In honor of the Gazan classes of 2024 that will not graduate this year and in memory of all student martyrs. Photo: Faculty for Justice in Palestine
by Brooks Ballenger and UMass Faculty for Justice in Palestine
UMass faculty honored student protestors following a walkout during the undergraduate commencement ceremony at McGuirk stadium on May 18. The preceding day, graduate students walked out of their commencement in protest of the war in Gaza and of the repressive actions of UMass Chancellor Javier Reyes.
Graduate Student Graduation, May 17
Graduating students stood in the midst of UMass’ graduate commencement ceremony on May 17 and walked out of the auditorium, booing Chancellor Reyes and chanting as they went. They were followed by faculty, family members, and friends.
The action drew attention to the university’s complicity with the ongoing genocide against Palestinians. Student protestors are calling for the university to cut ties with Israel and war profiteers like Raytheon, as well as drop the sanctions against students who have been punished for their peaceful protests of university policy. Just last week, Chancellor Reyes authorized the violent mass arrests of 134 student, faculty, and community members on campus. On May 20, the UMass faculty and librarians approved a motion of no confidence in Reyes.
Undergraduate Graduation, May 18
Dozens of students walked out of the undergraduate commencement at McGuirk Stadium after Chancellor Reyes took the podium. These students were honored in a simultaneous ceremony just outside the stadium where students, faculty, family, and community members gathered to honor the efforts of the student activists. Graduating seniors received diplomas from the People’s University for Gaza that were issued “In honor of the Gazan classes of 2024 that will not graduate this year and in memory of all student martyrs.
Organized by fellow students, faculty, and staff, the event, entitled the Popular University of Gaza People’s Commencement highlighted students’ call for peace in Gaza and an end to US support for the attacks on Palestinians in Gaza and the West Bank. A crowd of faculty, staff and community supporters greeted the graduates under a grove of stately pine trees.
Speakers included Attorney Rachel Weber, Mariana Richey of the Music Department, grassroots organizer Mariame Kaba,and Jill Brevik, Maha Moushabeck, and Leyla Moushabeck, leaders of Valley Families for Palestine. Professor Diana Sierra Becerra presented and translated video messages of support from two activists in El Salvador: campesino organizer Rosa Rivera Rivera and labor organizer Julian Sicán. A message of solidarity was read from Gaza University student Jehan Abu Rouk.
Amidst enthusiastic cheers, diplomas were presented to all the graduates by participating UMass Faculty For Justice in Palestine members. This was followed by a procession and reception honoring the graduates.
“It was a moving action and a fitting celebration that honors the most important features of a UMass education,” said Adam Dahl, Associate Professor of Political Science. “These students embody the values of intellectual rigor, personal and social responsibility, and the justice seeking that is at the heart of our university slogan: be revolutionary.”
“I am beyond proud of the students for their remarkable political integrity in condemning state violence—from the U.S.-funded genocide against Palestinians to the police violence on their own campus,” said Diana Sierra Becerra, Assistant Professor of History. “This year, graduating seniors have witnessed the bombing of all universities in Gaza. They have put their bodies on the line to protest the complicity of U.S. tax dollars and UMass investments in the killing of over 35,000 Palestinians. In response, the Chancellor’s administration has punished students with academic sanctions and unleashed police violence on this campus. Students, not university bureaucrats, are the real moral compass of this campus.”
I write this as someone who didn’t go to his doctoral graduation, I had issues with UMass’ violation of my civil rights which I memorialized for all of eternity in the introduction to my dissertation.
But I didn’t disrupt my graduation in protest — I just didn’t go. I considered disrupting it, dragging an anchor chain across the stage — it would have been loud… But I didn’t have the right to disrupt *other people’s* graduation so I didn’t do it — and these students shouldn’t have done it either.
Are their grievances legitimate? I thought that mine were — but there is that part about the social contract and respecting the rights of others. It’s also illegal — 272 MGL 40 states that “[w]hoever willfully interrupts or disturbs an assembly of people meeting for a lawful purpose shall be punished by imprisonment for not more than 1 month or by a fine of not more than $50”
Yes, UMass could have arrested them — something that would have been applauded by the parents who’d spent four hours (or more) driving up from New Jersey to see their son or daughter graduate. And if UMass wanted to play hardball, it still could bring charges under Sections 4.1.3. (a), (c), & (e) of the Conduct Code.
But I come back to where I started — how would people have felt if I’d dragged a heavy chain across the stage?
I made my statement by simply not going, which is what these students should have done as well.
I am so grateful for the bravery of these students! They are using their voices and intelligence in ways that we all should. Personally, I’ve learned so much from them, and have been honored to be a part of these peaceful but powerful demonstrations. Well done and congratulations!
I stand by my pledge not to talk down to the next generation, not to dismiss their actions as misguided, because that mentality and judgement from adults early in my life really knocked me down and made me self-conscious as a young person. It’s so easy to say “no, you’re doing it wrong, do it my way, I know more than you.”
These students are studying and learning from the past, and bringing fresh perspectives to tackle our collective challenges. We need them, and we owe them.
So wonderful to see at least some students taking the moral high ground.
More than willing to wager that Reyes never attends another graduation as chancellor after his heinous actions against the student community.
“More than willing to wager that Reyes never attends another graduation as chancellor after his heinous actions against the student community.”
If I were not an observant Puritan with “games of chance” forbidden to me, I’d take that wager because I have no doubt he’ll be there for at least the next four years. First, he almost certainly has a multi-year contract, my guess would be five years, and to fire him you have to buy out his contract, which will cost considerably more than the $2.4M he would be owed in salary — probably closer to $3.5M-$4M although that is a guess.
Bur reality is that he’s supported by a Governor who will remain in office at least through January, 2027 and a Board of Trustees who supports him. Reality is that nothing else really matters, this foolishness is not going over well in Boston. Two left-leaning Massachusetts Congressmen (Jake Auchincloss and Seth Moulton) have spoken out against it as well. There isn’t the political will to fire Javier, not for this, not when a lot of the people who would make the decision to fire him support what he did.